Reviews the literature to identify the most important antecedents associated with adolescent initiation of sex, contraception use, and pregnancy. Results indicate that over 100 antecedents create a complex, detailed picture of the correlates of adolescent sexual behaviors. They describe characteristics of adolescents themselves, their partners,…

This article provides school psychologists with important information regarding child and adolescent mental health problems that have been shown to be related to community violence exposure. Implications for school psychologists who are working with youth exposed to community violence or at-risk populations are discussed. (Contains 86 references…

Investigates cross-level mediational and moderational community and family influences on adolescent depressive symptoms. Findings suggested that the influence of the parent-child relationship on adolescent depressive symptoms is weaker in more adverse communities than in less adverse communities. Findings underscore the importance of placing…

Discusses Harmonium Inc., a community-based agency that counsels adolescents who are at moderate to high risk of developmental defeat because their behavior either threatens their health or jeopardizes their future. It is designed to assist these adolescents using a collaborative, strength-based counseling model built in the integrative capacity…

Reviews theories of identity formation ranging from the classic work of E. H. Erikson to postmodern and feminist theories, and incorporates qualitative research examining the identity formation of 14 adolescent girls. The article suggests that schools can serve as sites for deconstructing issues of socioeconomic status identity, body image…

Examines the relationship between violence exposure and experimentation with cigarettes and alcohol, intentions to use cigarettes and alcohol, health locus of control, and health values. Responses from 110 inner-city children and adolescents ages 10 to 13 years show cigarette use positively associated with violence. Control scales were negatively…

Used an ecological model to examine different factors impacting school completion and dropping out for Mexican American students, highlighting: the microsystem (individual settings), which emphasizes daily interactions represented by the family, the classroom, and peer relationships; the mesosystem (setting interactions); the exosystem (community…

The articles of this special edition on education and development in adolescence share some common themes, raise points for debate, and offer new research ideas. Common themes emphasize the following: (1) diversity among adolescents; (2) simultaneity of multiple forms of development; and (3) multiple environmental influences on adolescents. (SLD)