This study examined relationship between a sense of humor and symptoms of depression among adolescents. Findings on measures of humor and depression for 140 adolescents revealed that a sense of humor can be reliably measured and may be inversely related to symptoms of depression. (LBT)

The links between endocrine physiological processes and adolescent psychological processes are the focus of this article. Presents a brief history of biopsychosocial research in adolescent development. Discusses four models for conceptualizing hormone-behavior research as illustrative of biopsychosocial models. Concludes with challenges and…

Positive individual and social behaviors were assessed among male gang members and males involved in community-based organizations aimed at promoting positive youth development. Correlations of attribute scores were more often significant for the gang than for the nongang youth. Approximately one-quarter of the gang youth had total positive…

Examined whether adolescents identify with the crowd to which they are assigned by their peers or with higher status crowds, and whether they are more likely to select the normal crowd or their peer-assigned crowd as their social-reference group. Found that specific crowds' status changes over time, and that there are age differences in…

Examined the association between identity status and self-monitoring behavior, including age and gender differences, among adolescents in Turkey. Found significant increases in identity achievement and moratorium with age, and no gender differences in identity status. Males were significantly higher than females in self-monitoring. (Author/SD)

Investigated leisure-activity correlates for German adolescents. Found that risky leisure was related to West Germany residency, higher childhood competitive play/creative activities, and lower parental monitoring. Social-romantic leisure was related to being female and higher competitive play. Creative-introspective leisure was associated with…

Examined key components of the "New Look" at adolescent imaginary audience and personal fable constructs. Found that only the invulnerability and omnipotence subscales of the New Personal Fable Scale were highly related. Boys were found to believe more strongly in their own uniqueness, invulnerability, and omnipotence than were girls.…

Examines whether adolescent females spend more time in conversations and less time alone than adolescent males (N=2,004). Findings show that girls spent more time alone and in conversation when compared to boys. Results are interpreted in terms of males' orientation toward sports, and females' orientation toward close interpersonal relationships.…

Examined how conflictual and positive sibling relationship qualities differed for fourth, sixth, and eighth graders. Found that several prosocial relationship qualities were lower for sixth graders and higher for eighth graders. Perceptions of relationship qualities differed by gender composition, with boy-boy dyads reporting lower levels of…

This study assessed best friends' similarities in identity status and related behaviors, attitudes, and intentions for 1,159 high school students. Questionnaire responses indicated that mutually identified best friends shared distinct similarities in ego identity. Findings replicated those of existing investigations of friendship attitude and…

Examined relationship between perceived parental responsiveness and demandingness and violence-related behavior in 1,221 ninth and tenth graders. Found that the higher the perceived parental responsiveness and demandingness, the lower the likelihood of violence-related behavior, with stronger associations for females than for males. (Author/KB)

Used interviews and observations to examine the formation of an alternative student group that resisted the cultures of the dominant peer groups in their high school. Depicted the process by which a group of working-class students used peer-group membership as a supportive environment to defy the forces of social reproduction and become the people…

Examined association between adolescents' perception of parent-adolescent attachment quality and adolescent aggression, as mediated by social cognition and self-esteem. Found that higher social cognition was associated with lower self-reported aggression when parent-adolescent attachments and adolescent self-esteem were controlled. When…

This report highlights two studies that are part of the Program of Research on the Causes and Correlates of Delinquency sponsored by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). The Rochester Youth Development Study and the Pittsburgh Youth Study have tracked a sample of urban males through their teenage years. These studies…

Examined links between parental knowledge and adolescent delinquent behavior for correlated rates of developmental change and reciprocal associations from age 14 to 18. Found that parent knowledge was negatively correlated with delinquent behaviors at age 14 and knowledge increases over time were negatively correlated with increases in…