The developmental period of adolescence is explored in Swaziland from a multidisciplinary perspective. Study compares early anthropological research with contemporary interviews of Swazi parents. While the Swazi language has no term for "adolescent," there is evidence of a definite developmental period which could be defined as…

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)

Used Erikson's and Gilligan's theories of adolescent development to conduct content analysis of depiction of adolescent development in sample of Newberry Medal winners and honor books. Found some diversity among major characters, although white males were overrepresented. Many characters underwent identity crisis. Themes of separation and…

Administered self-concept and academic ability scales to 664 Malaysian adolescents to examine whether self-concept changes with age, not only in the global sense but in various components of the self-concept. Found that the self-concept of adolescent boys changed with age in the direction predicted. The trend was less obvious and less consistent…

Examines whether there are gender differences in changes in the aggregate level and individual stability of conduct problems from early adolescence to early adulthood. Analyzes self-reported data from a study of Norwegian adolescents. Analyses showed that involvement in conduct problems for both genders peaked in mid-adolescence. In the long term,…

Reviews research concerned with stress and coping during adolescence, using depression as example of consequence of stress and coping processes. Hypothesizes that exposure to and appraisals of interpersonal stress combine with aspects of biological development and use of maladaptive coping strategies to account for emergence of significant gender…

Adolescents with varying combinations of pubertal delay and growth retardation were given the Offer Self-Image Questionnaire. Delay in sexual maturation by itself had no deleterious effect on self-image but growth retardation did. (Author/GK)

Examined relationship between parental socioeconomic status (SES), sex, and initial pubertal problems among Nigerian adolescents (n=700). Found that boys from low SES groups experienced more physical problems than other groups. Low SES students experienced more health problems, and boys experienced more problems than girls. Sex was important…

Used data on attitudes toward deviance during adolescence to illustrate assessment of psychometric properties of instrument for studying change, compare adequacy of linear and curvilinear growth models, control for time invariant and time-varying covariates, and link overlapping data cohorts. Findings suggest that prodeviant attitudes increased…

Gilligan's work on sex differences in moral reasoning, perception of violence, resolution of sexual dilemmas, and abortion decisions poses a major challenge to Kohlberg's theory because of its feminist perspective of moral development. Gilligan suggests Kohlberg's demonstration of males and females attaining different levels of moral development…

Examines the reciprocal relation between parent-child distance and pubertal maturation. Analyses indicate that (1) puberty increases adolescent autonomy and parent-child conflict and diminishes parent-child closeness; and (2) parent-child distance may accelerate pubertal maturation among girls. (PCB)

A survey of 430 adults from the same middle-class community found that interviewees generally did not expect boy or girl adolescents to engage in certain activities (such as staying out until midnight) at different ages. However, differences were revealed in the perceived ability of the genders to handle personal responsibility. (KH)

College students completed measures of separation-individuation and college adjustment as first-year students (n=130) and again as juniors (n=81). Revealed significant increases in individuation from parents over time along most, but not all, dimensions of individuation. Gender-specific patterns were found. In general, independence from parents in…

Examined affiliation need and interpersonal closeness in college students (n=74). Need for social comparison declined with age for both sexes; females were more attached to their partners than were males. For females only, adolescents' need for stimulation peaked around age 18 or 19 and then declined, and need for emotional support declined in…