The amount of time adolescents spend communicating via digital technologies such as smartphones has led to concerns that computer-mediated communication (CMC) is displacing face-to-face (FtF) interactions and disrupting social development. Although many studies have examined CMC in adolescents' relationships with friends, few studies have examined…

Administered Value History Questionnaire to 170 teenagers and 170 adults to determine their wishes for future care. Results indicated that respondents definitely wanted to know truth about their health care and wanted to participate in decision making, even while dying. Majority did not want to be maintained indefinitely on life-support systems.…

In current research on parenting, 2 ways of conceptualizing perceived parental autonomy support can be distinguished. Parental autonomy support can be defined in terms of promotion of independence (PI) or in terms of promotion of volitional functioning (PVF). This study aimed to establish the empirical distinctiveness of both conceptualizations…

In 2 experiments, 13-year olds and college students were asked to make risky decisions in a game format. Results showed that the age groups differed in strategies, confidence, and types of options chosen, especially when the game became more complex. (Author/SW)

Little is known about the power strategies adolescents view as effective in influencing an intimate partner to have or avoid having sexual intercourse. These strategies were examined in a pretest survey of 203 adolescents who reported their agreement or disagreement with strategies used to have protected sex or to avoid having sex with a…

This study investigates decision-making among women with unplanned and unwanted conceptions. Subjects were females younger than 18 years old, who were unmarried at the time that they became pregnant (N=432). Data were obtained by means of questionnaires given to subjects prior to abortion or delivery. Questions concerned involvements of mother,…

Investigated the relationship between adolescent decision-making and their sense of control over the future. Ninety-eight students (11-14 years old) participated in a program emphasizing responsibility, plans, choices, and alternatives. Results indicate that increased knowledge of decision-making raises pupils' sense of control over their…

This guide for educators, produced by the National Alliance for Optional Parenthood, contains 20 activities designed to help adolescents explore the issues of parenting, with a special emphasis on parenthood as a choice. Activities to implement the learning objectives are suggested, including values clarification exercises, infor- mation sharing,…

This paper addresses some of the ethical and legal components of the issue of adolescence and the right to die. Developmental aspects on which psychologists may be uniquely qualified to comment are also addressed. The paper looks at ethical aspects of right to die decisions, the principle of autonomy, and the responsibility of caregivers. Legal…

This guide, designed for use with secondary school students, attempts to prevent drug and alcohol abuse among students. The Key Competencies program targets several characteristics which have been identified in addicted children: poor self image, improper sense of values, and lack of identity. For grades seven through nine, strategies are…

The well-being of adolescents relates to choices made during discretionary time. Participation in organized recreation provides for constructive use of free time and development of skills for managing discretionary time. This article reviews literature on adolescents' basic developmental needs and discusses social contexts of adolescence, making…

Counseling for empowerment is a complex and multifaceted process that requires, for some, a radical departure from the traditional conceptualization of the helper's role. The process of empowerment demands that professional helpers and their clients take an active, collaborative approach to identifying problems and goals. Drawing from counseling,…

Describes a project guided by the resilience paradigm in which a team of 4 social workers and 17 prevention personnel collaborated on programs serving 2000 inner-city adolescents. The project team concluded that a modified consultation model is essential for implementing new techniques and that positive, supportive relationships are singularly…