This study examines the predictive significance of late adolescent substance use groups (i.e., abstainers, experimental users, at-risk users, and abusers) for early adult adaptation. Participants (N = 159) were drawn from a prospective longitudinal study of first-born children of low-income mothers. At 17.5 years of age, participants were assigned…

Using data from Grades 5 to 7 of the longitudinal 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development (PYD), this research assessed the structure and development of PYD. Building on Grade 5 findings, that "Five Cs" (Competence, Confidence, Connection, Character, and Caring) could be empirically defined as latent constructs converging on a second-order…

Objective: As a follow-up to an earlier cross-sectional study (Holmbeck et al., 2003), the current multimethod, multi-informant investigation examined individual growth in psychosocial adjustment across the adolescent transition in 2 samples: young adolescents with spina bifida (SB) and typically developing adolescents (N = 68 in both groups at…

Civic engagement was studied in relation to overall development in adolescence, emerging adulthood, and young adulthood to examine how earlier activity involvement and success in prior and concurrent age-salient domains of competence may contribute to 2 forms of civic engagement in adulthood (citizenship and volunteering). Data on 163 youth were…

Theories of positive youth development (PYD) regard such development as bases of both community contributions and lessened likelihood of risk/problem behaviors. Using data from the 4-H Study of PYD, we tested these expectations by examining if PYD in Grade 5 predicted both youth contributions and risk behaviors and depression in Grade 6. Results…

Little research has investigated the relationships among sources, outcomes, and moderators of stress. There is a particular lack of such work with children and adolescents, especially work describing how the process unfolds with respect to the influence of continuing everyday stressors, such as those associated with the demands of schooling. This…

This behavioral genetic study examined perceived competence and self-worth in same-sex twins, siblings, and stepsiblings 10 to 18 years old, and again 3 years later. Findings at second assessment showed six of seven subscales heritable. Genetic contributions to stability were found for perceived scholastic competence, athletic competence, physical…

Explores biological and sociocultural elements as functional determinants of self-esteem that are dependent upon gender and developmental stage. Findings indicate self-esteem of early adolescent girls depends upon parental support, but for boys it depends upon a sense of mastery. In later adolescence a sense of mastery becomes important to both…

Examined whether differentiating processes existed for 7 composite indices of positive and negative adolescent adjustment in 720 sibling pairs. Found that siblings born 1 year apart at Time 1 were more similar to each other than were siblings born 2 years apart, suggesting that shared environmental influences counteract sibling differentiation…

Confirms hypotheses correlating adolescent competence (comprised of dependability, intelligence, and self-confidence) with personal stability, career, and marital satisfaction. Uses data from a longitudinal cohort studied over 50 years and from recent interviews with 60 of the original group members. Concludes that early socialization largely…

Examined predictors of competence among children of depressed mothers. Found that students that were competent at eighth grade had greater achievement commitment, more positive coping, better family relationships, and greater social support at Grade 6 than eighth graders whose competence decreased between Grade 6 and 8. Among adolescents…