Analyzed differences in outlook and orientation between pre-identity-formation adolescent and post-identity-formation adult. Extends Erikson's notion of personal identity by examining implications of making commitments in areas of work, family life, religion, and political ideology for ego development in adulthood. Critical psychological…

Contends that, with childhood predispositions, developmental tasks of adolescence influence degree and course of homosexuality. Notes different types of homosexuality that emerge in adolescence which are influenced by different psychodynamic conditions in each stage of adolescence. Changing developmental roles in relation to individuation, object…

Explored differences between 35 women who had abortions as teenagers and 36 women who had abortions as adults. Respondents reported on their premorbid psychiatric histories, the decision-making process itself, and postabortion distress symptoms. Antisocial and paranoid personality disorders, drug abuse, and psychotic delusions were significantly…

The development of a caring value orientation was investigated in four age groups: grades 6, 8, 10, and 12. Subjects (N=1,247) completed a questionnaire designed to measure preference for more caring personal values. Findings are discussed in terms of theories that hypothesize gender differences in world view. (Author/EMK)

Examined development of self-monitoring behavior during adolescence. Administered Adolescent Self-Monitoring Scale to 490 students in grades 7 through 12. Findings supported hypothesis that self-monitoring behavior increases from early to late adolescents. Found significant difference by age in overall self-monitoring behavior and in sensitivity…

Investigated relationship between early sexual maturation and psychosexual behaviors of dating and sexual intercourse among national sample of adolescent girls. Found early-maturing girls more likely to have experienced earlier dating and coital onset than late-maturing peers. Blacks experienced menarche and first intercourse at earlier ages, yet…

Examined development of self-consciousness and its relationship to emotional disturbance in early and late adolescence. Results indicated that self-consciousness decreased with age in nondisturbed subjects. Development of self-consciousness in temporary situations did not follow consistent patterns in disturbed subjects. Social-cognitive shifts in…

Assessed changes in the ability of girls from early to late adolescence to recognize their bodies. Subjects (N=157) were asked to choose their own picture (head occluded) from among five photographs. All were able to identify themselves with considerable accuracy, particularly the late-adolescent group. (JAC)

Analyzed changes in parent-child relationship from data collected from mothers, fathers, and oldest children in 110 families whose oldest child was 11, 14, or 17. Results provide insight into expectations and processes involved in revising the quality of parent-child relationships during early adolescence. Socialization for independence during…

Investigated the relationship between ego identity development and obesity in adolescent girls (N=30). Subjects completed the Washington University Sentence Completion Test for ego identity development. Significant differences in scores of ego identity emerged between normal weight subjects and puberty-onset obese subjects and between…

Junior and senior high school students (N=279) completed measures of pubertal status, demographics, and Issues Checklist. Intensity of School Issues and Household Behavior Issues was greater among seventh and ninth graders than among eleventh graders. Self-Responsibility Issues were most intense among transpubertal adolescents. Boys perceived more…

Surveyed 396 sexually experienced college students. Results indicated that, compared to early coital initiators, late coital initiators were more effective contraceptors during initial coitus, had more committed relationships with initial sex partners, engaged in more contraceptive use discussion and planning, and used more authoritative and…

Reviewed 25 studies, involving total of 4,024 adolescents from 9 states, which used Adolescent Life Change Event Questionnaire. Findings included gender and age differences in number of events experienced and perceived stressfulness, and relationship between events experienced and suicidal ideation. (Author/NB)

Boarding school adolescent boys (n=197) rated dormitory mates on each dimension of Marcia's levels of ego identity achievement (Identity Achievement, Moratorium, Foreclosure, and Diffusion) twice with interval of six months. Results indicated age differences in identity status for young adolescents, identity development associated with time, and…