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…

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…

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…

Reviews literature on various aspects of adolescent sexual development, such as masturbation, how knowledge of sex is learned, sexual preferences, sexual practices, and values. (DB)

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…

Analyzed longitudinal data from 105 students when they were in junior high and high school to examine relationship between gender and identity development over time. Results indicated that patterns of change over time were similar for males and females; as students aged, they grew in psychosocial maturity regardless of gender. (Author/NB)

Data from early adolescents and parents revealed traditionalism of female sex role attitude development influenced by maternal employment, father's sex role attitudes in interaction with time spent with daughter, and chronological age; traditionalism of male sex role attitude development influenced by mother's sex role attitudes in interaction…

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)

Examines the emotional and relational components of body image in French (N=80) and American (N=60) adolescents. Results indicate that major cultural differences arose from the belief that the real body and the ideal body coincide. Gender differences centered more on the level of control of body changes and on self-assessment modes. (RJM)

Studied the relationship between identity status and academic achievement in female adolescents (N=20), based on the theories of Erikson and Marcia. Scoring of interviews suggested that experience and working through crises in beliefs were more closely associated with academic achievement and identity than specific commitments to career or…

Examined body image satisfaction in Turkish adolescents. Findings from 269 female and 286 male secondary school students revealed that males were more satisfied with their bodies than were females, early-maturing males and late-maturing females had higher levels of body image satisfaction, and participants in physical activities were more…