Describes a theory of cognition which posits specialized structural systems (SSSs) that enable individuals to represent and understand domains of knowledge. Three test batteries assessed 12-16 year olds' abilities to think combinatorially, form hypotheses, design experiments, and construct models or theories. Suggests that the results of tests…

Discusses breast cancer and teenagers, focusing on how parents can introduce the subject and encourage breast self-examination. The article provides information on breast cancer statistics, mammography, and American Cancer Society services. (SM)

As adolescents work through issues like independence, identity, and intimacy, parents must establish their role and guide their children through difficult years. The article suggests that parents stay informed and connected, talk to their children, take a stand on issues, select battles carefully, be approachable, and enhance self-esteem. (SM)

Examined relationship between adolescent sexual intercourse and history of physical abuse, neighborhood monitoring, and adolescent's attachment to school. Findings from 2,108 adolescents suggest that there are many significant risk factors related to whether adolescents are sexually experienced and that importance of some factors vary by gender.…

Examined influence of Big Brothers/Big Sisters on peer relationships of foster youth. Foster parents were more likely than nonfoster parents to report child's improved social skills and greater comfort and trust interacting with others. Youth in relative care reported slight improvements in prosocial support; those in nonrelative care reported…

Explores giftedness from infancy to adolescence within a psychodynamic developmental framework. Gifted development is discussed in terms of drive, ego functions, object relations, and self-experience. Also discussed are the history of giftedness, gifted infants and preschoolers, gifted school-age children, and giftedness in male and female…

Assessments of schools and community agencies with teen pregnancy prevention programs (n=23) in three California counties were conducted using surveys, interviews, and site visits. Best practices identified included youth development programs, Involvement of family and other caring adults, and culturally appropriate and locally relevant…

The multidimensional empathic response patterns of late adolescent undergraduate students (N=153) was examined according to their identity status. Subjects completed self-report measures of empathic response style and identity development. Findings for empathic concern, cognitive empathy, and empathic distress are related to identity status…

Reviews research on adolescent development in the family context. Focuses on how best to characterize normative family relationships during adolescence, especially related to parent-child conflict, and on the effect of variations in parent-child relationships on adolescent development. Argues that there is enough evidence to conclude that…

Analysis of longitudinal data on 658 German adolescents studied from sixth to ninth grade identified four developmental patterns of beliefs about their academic capabilities: steady high, increasing, decreasing, and steady low. Factors influencing patterns included parental involvement/interest, maternal warmth, school grade, school anxiety, and…

Assesses the moral reasoning of Hawaiian youths. Findings challenge C. Gilligan's theoretical proposition that gender differences exist in moral development. Implications for counseling theory, research, and practice are discussed. (Author)

Defines youth development programs and reviews the program evaluation literature. Discusses (1) positive-behavior focused competency/asset enhancing programs, (2) problem-behavior focused competency/asset enhancing programs, and (3) resistance skills-based prevention programs. Includes an appendix of detailed summaries of 15 program evaluations.…

Discusses contemporary theories of adolescence, stressing developmental systems models that integrate individual and contextual levels of analysis. Maintains that adolescence should be studied with multivariate-longitudinal designs, change-sensitive measures, and data analytic strategies capitalizing on triangulation across quantitative and…

Examined 1979-97 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse data to investigate the probabilities of progression through a sequence of stages of substance use. Progression to marijuana and hard drugs was uncommon in people born before World War II. The stages phenomenon emerged with the baby boom and peaked among people born around 1960.…

Offers "framing questions" to help countries and communities create adaptable public policies related to adolescents and youth. Recommends principles for policy development, maintaining that social policy should focus on positive and nonacademic outcomes as well as negative outcomes and academic success, should be firmly connected to…