Fifth through eighth graders completed self-reports in response to pager signals received over one week and again four years later. Responses indicated that thinking about the opposite sex occurs earlier than spending time with the opposite sex alone and that both increase over time. Girls spent more time with opposite sex and more time thinking…

Examined impact of pubertal maturation on body image and on perceived quality of relations with opposite sex peers in adolescence. Findings from 157 French adolescents aged 11 to 16 years confirmed that boys evaluated themselves on attractiveness more positively than girls. Found no sex difference on perceived physical condition. (Author/NB)

Examines peer group perceptions of 312 students in grades 5-12. Early and middle adolescents placed more value on being in a popular group; perceived more conformity, antagonism, and leadership in their groups; and reported more antagonistic interactions with those outside their groups than did preadolescents and late adolescents. (RJC)

Examined age differences in 9- to 15-year-olds' experiences with families and friends, and by themselves. Amount of time spent with family decreased with age. Affect with family became less positive through seventh grade; affect with friends became more favorable with age; affect when alone did not vary. (BC)

This discussion of underachievement in gifted high school males notes the high incidence of male underachievers and the common co-occurrence of poor social skills. Also considered are the beginnings of underachievement, the importance of the peer group in adolescent development, the importance of social skill development, and the prevention of…

Examines whether adolescent females spend more time in conversations and less time alone than adolescent males (N=2,004). Findings show that girls spent more time alone and in conversation when compared to boys. Results are interpreted in terms of males' orientation toward sports, and females' orientation toward close interpersonal relationships.…

Examines older adolescents (N=167) perceived levels of attachment to parents and peers, along with their self-image. Results indicate that attachment to parents continues to remain strong into late adolescence for both males and females. Females had stronger attachment to peers whereas males had higher levels of self-image. (RJM)

Examined role of close relationships during adolescence and their contribution to individual coping. Data from series of studies on early adolescents showed that availability of family and peers combined with support of adolescent's independence contributed to individual adaptive coping. Contribution of close relationships to coping differed for…

Through written responses to a questionnaire, adolescents' perceptions of discussions with parents and friends were examined with reference to academic/vocational, social/ethical, family, and peer domains. Findings are discussed in terms of differences in procedures of social construction between parents' and friends' socializing influences.…

Observed adolescents' interaction with a same-gender friend in grades 9, 10, and 11. Found evidence of developmental changes for both boys and girls: intimacy based on discussion and self-disclosure increased between grades 9 and 10, and capacity for sustained intimate affect increased between grades 10 and 11. Boys were more likely than girls to…

Questionnaires and interviews completed by 60 gifted adolescents indicated that both sexes were highly sensitive to societal pressures. Females accepted their body image, social image, and inner emotions better than the males who perceived themselves as having poorer peer relationships and less leadership potential. Case studies illustrate…

Association between maternal employment status and adolescent relations with parents, sibling, and peers was investigated. Males had more arguments with their mothers and siblings when their mothers worked. The need to take a family system perspective in order to understand the relationship between maternal employment and adolescent development…

Examined relationship qualities and perceived social self- efficacy of 12-year-olds. Found that perceived low parental intimate support, high conflict with parents, and lower perceived self-efficacy were related to depression symptoms. Girls reported greater best friend intimate support and less conflict, greater self-efficacy, and stronger…

Examined impact of peer experience on seventh graders' strategies for coping with peer hassles. Found that more aggressive adolescents perceived more control over hassles. More aggressive, unpopular adolescents used more negative strategies; more popular aggressive females used more problem-focused strategies. Withdrawn adolescents perceived less…

Investigated the impact of childhood sexual abuse on later sexual victimization among homeless and runaway youth. Found high rates of childhood sexual abuse and street sexual victimization, with females experiencing higher rates than males. Early sexual abuse increased likelihood of later victimization indirectly by increasing amount of time at…