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)

Discusses four types of adolescent hypocritical behavior: (1) pretending to be what one is not; (2) pretending not to be what one is; (3) talking negatively about peers in their absence and positively in their presence; (4) behaving and speaking in whatever manners are in one's interests. (Author/DB)

Reviews British epidemiological and psychological studies of adolescent drinking behavior, with special reference to cultural and developmental aspects. Concludes that drinking alcohol may be considered normal and that many adolescents are introduced to alcohol by their parents. Raises concern over amount of drunkenness reported. (Author/NB)

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…

This report constitutes one of the first activities of the Forum on Adolescence, a cross-cutting activity of the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council of the National Academies. Established under the auspices of the Board on Children, Youth, and Families, the forum's overarching mission is to synthesize, analyze, and evaluate…

Examines spirituality as a facet of positive youth development and considers how religious training can either enhance or stifle adolescent spiritual growth. Discusses adolescence and the spiritual impulse, adolescents' well being, and spirituality in developmental and social contexts. Presents spirituality as a universal human capacity. (RJM)

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…

Highly recommends Rutter et al.'s work as an important review of the major research findings on adolescent problem behavior. Describes the structure of the book, summarizing each chapter. Cites as the strength of the book its concern with interdisciplinary explanations, historical trends, and international variations. (SD)

Describes examples of adolescent behavior which parents and school personnel find obnoxious. Explains why intelligent, reasonable, and well-adjusted teenagers periodically behave in this way, as something that is developmentally inevitable given the uneven development of competencies in several important areas. Adolescent incompetencies in four…

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…