Research on the effects of education on adolescents' contraceptive behaviors is summarized and 27 teaching strategies, each related to a particular contraceptive problem adolescents encounter, are outlined. (JMF)

Surveyed 659 family support workers regarding their training and services for families with 10- to 15-year olds. Found that 30 to 50% rated training as inadequate or poor, had inaccurate knowledge about young adolescent development, and felt they were doing an inadequate job promoting developmental assets for youth. Higher quality training was…

Notes that the family support and positive youth development movements represent considerable change in both philosophical and programmatic approaches to the delivery of services. Examines the key elements and the relative success of family support and youth development practice, compares the two streams of literature and programming, and suggests…

Talks about the role of fairy tales, myth, and religious stories in the author's works of fiction, which investigate the world from the standpoint of the outsider. Presents excerpts from one of the author's novels that demonstrates that being a true outsider means having moments of triumph and moments of despair. (RS)

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,…

As an outgrowth of the theory of flow, looks at some fine distinctions regarding the adolescent's optimal conditions for growth. Points to the importance of the adolescent's ability to reinterpret conflicts which crop up in raw experience, to overcome psychic entropy with long-term challenges or "life themes," and to find new meaning and…

Reviews volume on the role of values in adolescent development, mental health, and psychopathology. Describes and critically evaluates the book's three approaches (theory, science, and social commentary) to data from the longitudinal study "Children in the Community Project." Concludes that regardless of how findings are interpreted, the…

The Mill City/Gates Youth Development Project operated as a youth-at-risk program in a timber-dependent community during the timber crisis of the early 1990s. Evaluations indicate the youth activities were effective. Community support structures created by the project continue to operate 5 years after the end of funding, indicating a successful…

Reviews the feasibility and validity of the various methods that have been used to measure puberty and summarizes the evidence-base as to whether the age at menarche and the age at onset of puberty has decreased in recent years. Provides a summary of the findings of relevance to those critically reviewing the current evidence surrounding age of…

Study sought to gain insight into what forum girls use to learn about the adolescent experience, and to examine views of their sexuality and femininity. Interviews were conducted with groups of girls ages 13-16 years, from diverse backgrounds. Discussions revealed a displacement of female sexuality. Responsible adults should challenge distorted…

Describes the psychological and emotional effect of the death of a parent on young children and adolescents and how teachers can help students through the grieving process. (PKP)

Examines the results of a comprehensive, multifaceted longitudinal school-based prevention program, which focuses on enhancing protective factors with the goal of promoting positive youth development, reducing identified risk factors, and preventing adolescent problem behaviors. Results reveal that Raising Healthy Children participants had…

Investigated relationship between ego identity development and suicidal inclinations at adolescence. Results from suicidal (N=10) and normative (N=30) adolescents revealed that most of the ego identity factors examined differentiated between the two groups. Findings support hypothesis that ego identity formation at adolescence may serve as…

Investigated relationship between identity status and structural dimensions of individuals' self-theories or personal construct systems in college students (n=118), classified by identity status. Findings indicated Moratoriums and Diffusions had the highest self-construct differentiation. (Author/ABL)

Investigated relationship between early sexual maturation and psychosexual behaviors of dating and sexual intercourse among national sample of adolescent girls. Found early-maturing girls more likely to have experienced earlier dating and coital onset than late-maturing peers. Blacks experienced menarche and first intercourse at earlier ages, yet…