Studied religious development in 365 adolescents from white, two-parent families participating in the Iowa Youth and Families Project. Found that farm youth had stronger ties to religious institutions and expressed stronger commitments to religious values than nonfarm youth. The correlates of religious change and continuity indicate that social…

Using longitudinal data, provides an empirical test of an identity capital model as it applies to university students' (N=170) passage toward adulthood. Results suggest that the model has merit and can be used to direct future research. The developmental-social psychological perspective provided the most useful framework for testing and building…

Outlines a new model for applying concepts from resilience research to education, prevention, and treatment. Suggests how these concepts can guide practitioners in creating more powerful interventions and in fostering positive development for all youth. Focuses on caring relationships, high expectations and positive beliefs, and opportunities for…

Examined concurrent and longitudinal associations between peer crowd affiliation and internalized distress in a sample of 246 youth. Found that adolescents' report of peer crowd affiliation was concurrently associated with self-concept and levels of internalizing distress. Follow-back analyses revealed that "Populars/Jocks" had…

Compared peer relations, developmental expectations, perceived competence, and well-being in Dutch and Japanese adolescents, investigating cultural influences. Survey data indicated that Dutch adolescents were more satisfied with their peer relationships, expected to achieve developmental tasks at earlier ages, felt more competent about their…

Summarizes research that shows the benefits of avoiding corporal punishment, putting recent defenses of corporal punishment in perspective, explaining a paradox concerning trends in corporal punishment, and concluding with an estimate of the benefits to children, parents, and society as a whole that could occur if corporal punishment were to…

Assessed how the youth empowerment process encouraged positive youth development. Observation, interview, and focus group data from an urban community health promotion project indicated that practitioners created environments conducive to adolescents taking responsibility for their quality of life by welcoming and enabling youth. Power was…

Contains an interview with Hawaiian writer Graham Salisbury about his young adult novels, such as "Blue Skin of the Sea,""Under the Blood-Red Sun," and "Shark Bait." Discusses the struggles and conflicts of boyhood. (TB)

A survey of California middle school students (1,137 responses from 3,542) showed that youth could be both bullies and victims at the same time and under variable conditions. The results call into question the likelihood of success in bully-proofing programs. Promoting positive youth development programs and creating a sense of safety in schools…

Explores how family transitions affect parenting practices in a sample of adolescents. Adolescents from all family types reported significant declines in behavioral control, but not parental responsiveness. Findings suggest that adolescent individuation may overshadow family-type differences during middle adolescence. (Contains 50 references and 3…

Analyzes potential role of computer-assisted strategies in substance abuse prevention efforts. Discusses substance abuse prevention in context of adolescent development. Defines computer-assisted instruction in terms of opportunities it represents for substance abuse prevention. Describes barriers to address and makes recommendations for…

Surveys some major theoretical contributions to evolvement of concepts about adolescence. Outlines historical perspectives regarding development of inpatient and residential institutions, followed by brief discussions of follow-up studies evaluating both forms of treatment. Provides general overview of outcome research, focusing on underlying,…

As teenagers mature, they seek to move away from the adult community's normative pressures. A 10-year survey of adolescents in 10 communities found more congruence than conflict between parent and adolescent world views. Seattle, Washington's innovative youth charter offers an ideal way to map out adult and adolescent roles. Includes nine…

Study of Israeli adolescents participating in summer camps revealed that active exposure to and assumption of variegated roles in different settings on volunteer basis, while performing meaningful and quasi-responsible actions by means of trial-and-error behavior, enhanced role and interpersonal differentiation, and hence personal differentiation,…

Reviews evidence on development of competence in decision making during adolescence focusing on cognitive aspects. Discusses indicators of competence: choice, comprehension, creativity, compromise, consequentiality, correctness, credibility, consistency, and commitment. Evidence suggests that many adolescents show reliable level of competence in…