Presents a historical and cultural perspective of adolescence. Discusses the developmental tasks at this period and the negative behaviors that can result from tackling those tasks. Suggests that young adolescents' positive experiences with developmental tasks and interactions with adults may lessen the tendency to engage in at-risk behaviors. (SR)

Offers a detailed examination of both external and internal assets that middle school students may have, and discusses those that can be significantly affected by middle schools. Describes what successful middle schools do, and discusses teacher training and positive youth development. (SR)

Investigates three types of practices used by Maryland high schools to support the transition of ninth-grade students into high school: traditional transition activities, reform-oriented practices promoted by the literature on communal school organization, and practices providing additional instruction. Discusses policy implications. (Contains 21…

Briefly examines resilience, risk, and protection in youth development and education. Commonly cited protective factors receive empirical support and the case is made for strategically layering these factors throughout schools to promote positive outcomes for youth. In contrast to adding new programs or curricula, emphasis is on the redesign of…

Describes the life and contributions of Ben Cohn, a pioneer in the application of group counseling to acting-out underachieving adolescents. The article includes an interview with Cohn. (TE)

Describes the evolution of adolescence as a developmental stage and several psychological approaches to adolescent development. The discussion covers the need for adolescent literature to address physical, social, and emotional issues, and the need for librarians and teachers to be aware of the available literature. (29 references) (CLB)

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…

Describes a study of self-concept changes among 87 ninth-grade students during a 10-week mandatory adventure course. Concludes that course participation improved overall self-esteem and perceptions of own physical self and popularity, particularly among male students. Contains 16 references. (SV)

Describes an intervention program for pregnant teenagers and teen mothers. Topics include program development and implementation, staffing, and content. Also discussed are adjustments that a mother must make in order to break the chain of poverty and welfare. (RJC)

Examines etiological factors associated with delinquent and nondelinquent strategic styles from a clinical sociological perspective. Describes intervention model for rebalancing the strategic styles of youth. Discusses diagnostic, prognostic, and prescriptive stages of intervention, utilizing case material. (Author/BH)

Investigated relationship between sex-role development and ego development in White and Mexican-American high school students. Results indicated no ethnic differences in relationship between ego identity and masculinity/femininity. Adolescents who were identity achieved on ideological identity formation had significantly higher levels of…

Reviews selected articles from medical and psychological literature that focus on special issues for diabetic woman during preadolescence, adolescence, and adulthood. Makes recommendations for behavioral interventions with diabetic women in regard to sick role adjustment, peer conformity pressures, eating disorders, sexuality, and pregnancy.…

Examines some theoretical arguments for teaching moral education in classroom. Investigates how use of fiction might enhance moral education. Presents specific strategy for teaching moral reasoning through fiction, using Mark Twain's novel, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," as example. (Author/NB)

Demonstrates how collaboration among student development educators and university instructors can use content of academic courses to facilitate personal development in adolescent college students. Describes application of Chickering's seven vectors of human development to accomplish this in course entitled Drinking and Driving: Legal and Social…

Interviewed 1,708 East and West German adolescents to study similarities and differences in their psychosocial transitions. Found that females generally underwent transitions earlier than males. East German youths conceived of the transition to work and displayed autonomy earlier than West German youth, but the overall timetable of transitions…