Examines the constructs of individuation, differentiation, and identity formation from the individual development and family system theory perspectives. States that individuation and identity formation process encompass both the individual's efforts toward separation from family of origin and impact of these efforts on identity formation and the…

Reviews previous theoretical approaches to understanding adolescent suicide (Durkheim's sociological theory of suicide, social learning theory, psychological theory, and family systems theory), and proposes utilization of human ecological theory. Examines factors associated with adolescent suicide at organism (individual), microsystem, mesosystem,…

Details the reasons behind adolescents' attraction to cults. and distinguishes functions of cults and the term "cult." Identifies various cults, and describes the process of involvement. Notes that in the absence of authentic, stabilizing standards, some youth are especially vulnerable. Provides recommendations for adults working with…

The object of this paper is to describe a technique in family therapy which the authors have found useful in treating families. An interactional approach to the family system was used. (Author)

Study examined attitudes of adolescents toward aspects of marriage and family life. The majority expressed negative attitudes toward divorce and viewed marriage as a lifelong commitment. While about one third expressed positive attitudes toward premarital sex, a majority indicated they would engage or had engaged in sex. The adolescents…

Assessed 61 nonchronic juvenile offenders and their parents using Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales II. Functional perspectives of family cohesion and adaptability by juvenile offender and one or both parents were associated with higher levels of ego development in offender as measured by Washington University Sentence Completion…

Examined relationship of early mealtime experiences to later bulimia in 128 female college students. Found significant group differences among bulimics, nonbulimics, and repeat dieters on early meal experience questionnaire, with bulimic group reporting most negative and unusual experiences. Found significant differences among groups on depression…

Administered Family-of-Origin Scale (FOS) to 88 high school students on 2 occasions, with 2-week interval between testings. Global FOS index and 10 subscale scores demonstrated high test-retest reliability. Internal consistency reliability was also high. Findings suggest that FOS for adolescents is psychometrically sound. (Author/NB)

Study explored relationship between family environment and adolescent coping in Chinese sample. Chinese adolescents tended to mobilize personal resources, seek help from social resources, and adopt a philosophy of doing nothing as their major coping style when they had a positive perception of their family environment. Girls relied more on social…

Asked 251 college students to describe their own degree of religiousness and that of the home atmosphere in which they grew up. When measures of students' total religiousness, their belief in God, and their ritual observance were related separately to their cumulative grade point averages, no relationship was found for either present or past…

Compared self-images of 20 delinquent punk rockers and 20 delinquent nonpunk rockers. Results revealed no significant differences between the groups, suggesting that even though punk rockers may look and act unusual, they may actually be similar to other groups. Findings did suggest that there may be differences between groups in terms of family…

College students' (n=64) perceptions of parents' actions toward each other were associated with respondents' ratings of families and family members. For women, but not men, found strong relationship between perceptions of how fathers interacted with mothers and how mothers interacted with fathers. Findings support view that ongoing parental…

This paper was concerned with the correlation between the extent of a youth self-defined rebellion and 1) perceived parental marital happiness; 2) the restrictiveness-permissiveness of perceived child rearing practices; and 3) perceived division of authority of parents. (Author/RK)

Studies the relationship between the contemporary Jewish family and the major social trends affecting the minority community, investigates the nature and extent of the interaction between parents and their children, and compares the present position of the Jewish family with that of its non-Jewish counterpart. (Author/RK)

Compares several areas of adjustment which may prove difficult for the Mexican adolescent who finds himself in the adolescent period in the United States of America. Examines the time periods and the entire concept of the period of adolescence, the concept of family and its impact on adolescence, and the peer group composition and leisure…