As they grow up, young people face important decisions about relationships, sexuality, and sexual behavior. The decisions they make can impact their health and well-being for the rest of their lives. Young people have the right to lead healthy lives, and society has the responsibility to prepare youth by providing them with comprehensive sexual…

While our knowledge about the cognitive and social components of disability continues to grow, little is known about how the self specifically develops in adolescents with physical disabilities and whether a specific source is an indicator of self-determination with this population. Adolescents who have a physical disability may have difficulty…

The principal aim of the study was to examine the psychometric properties and construct validity of the General Decision-Making Scale (GDMS) in a sample of 700 adolescents (aged 15-19 years). Confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses provide evidence for a solid five-dimension structure reflecting the theorized construct: rational, intuitive,…

This report provides a critical review of the current research literature on the consequences of unintended childbearing for families and children. The review addresses the following potential consequences: prenatal and perinatal risks (e.g., inadequate or delayed initiation of prenatal care, smoking/drinking/substance use during pregnancy,…

Cognitive, socialization, and situational dimensions are embodied in both the concept of decision making and the concept of locus of control. Examines these dimensions as they relate to six important sexual questions. Results investigating the relationship between adolescent sexual decision making and internal-external locus of control are…

Investigated the effect of self-esteem and locus of control orientation in career decision making in (N=224) adolescents. Results show both variables had significant effect on career decisional status. Correlational analyses showed that while both variables also had significant relationship with decisional status, locus of control accounted for…

Minors were found to be less likely than adults to anticipate consultation with a professional regarding the pregnancy, and more likely than adults to perceive decisions about pregnancy disposition and contraception as being "externally" determined. (Author/DB)

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…

Investigated student characteristics in relation to affective and cognitive aspects of adolescent career development. Questionnaire results indicated three styles of career development: intellective or deliberative; concerned and personally involved with high or low aspirations; and uncertain or confused. Suggests motives and strategies that might…

Examined the relationship of self-rated decision style to vocational decision-making behaviors among school leavers (N=169) before leaving school, and to the implementation of their plans after leaving school. Support was found for the active-passive dimension in decision style and for the advantage of using an active logical style. (Author)

Eighty subjects in grades 5, 7, 9, and 12 spontaneously nominated peers as the most acceptable reference group for social judgment; adults outside the family as a reference group for informational judgment; and parents as the best referent for moral judgment. (Author/CP)

The study investigated the following: (1) the relationship of problem solving appraisal to narcissistic vulnerability, locus of control, and depression; (2) the differences in problem solving appraisal, locus of control, and depression in first-time and repeat offenders; and (3) the prediction of problem solving appraisal by narcissistic…