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)

Uses statistical data from the National Survey of Families and Households (NSFH) to examine the effects of adolescent work experience on family relations, parental monitoring, and the use of earnings. The amount of time spent working was related to increased disagreement regarding independence, decreased monitoring, and increased requirements to…

Examined use of Bender Gestalt Visual-Motor Test with school-age adolescents over age 11. Mean error scores suggest that visual-motor development is not maturationally complete by age 11 years, 11 months. Suggests additional research focusing on extending normative sample or developing new scoring system for adolescents. (Author/NB)

In the slums of Medellin, Colombia, a program seeks to improve children's physical health, intellectual development, and self-concept through such activities as carpentry, breadmaking, and sports and literature clubs. These activities help develop ethical and moral values, planning and organizing skills, and a future orientation. (SK)

Examined relationship between levels of Piagetian formal reasoning ability and values preferences derived from Rokeach Value Survey. Findings from 448 secondary school students revealed that subjects with high scores on formal reasoning ranked terminal values representing abstract notions with long-term implications higher than those focusing on…

Developmental change in self-esteem was assessed from early adolescence through early adulthood. Found that males tended to increase and females to decrease in self-esteem over time and that there was rank order consistency in self-esteem over time. Within each gender, individuals' differences in developmental trajectories were related to…

Examined effectiveness of experiential suicide prevention program. Students in experimental group (n=215) participated in seven weekly meetings. Experimental subjects and controls (n=178) completed pre- and posttest questionnaires on suicidal tendencies, hopelessness, ego identity, and coping ability. Findings showed that experimental groups were…

Obtained data from 603 questionnaires and 60 interviews from male and female Italian adolescents on awareness of physical maturation, heterosexual relationships, motivation for early sexual experiences, and effects on personal identity. Found significant differences concerning sex and level of schooling with regard to elaboration of one's…

A model for developmental transitions in defense use in adolescence based on an integration of psychoanalytic views of adolescence and J. Loevinger's theory of ego development was tested with 31 male and 35 female adolescents. Results support some hypothesized developmental transitions and not others. Implications of findings are discussed. (SLD)

Examined impact of pubertal maturation on body image and on perceived quality of relations with opposite sex peers in adolescence. Findings from 157 French adolescents aged 11 to 16 years confirmed that boys evaluated themselves on attractiveness more positively than girls. Found no sex difference on perceived physical condition. (Author/NB)

Notes that, during adolescence, lesbian and gay youth often become aware of their sexual orientation and may experience problems. Contends that gay and lesbian adolescents need support from their families to cope with stressors in homophobic society. Sees fear of rejection by family members as creating anxiety in young gay people. Discusses these…

Explores aggressive-anger expression in adolescents; a three-factor model proved best. Correlations of aggressive-anger-expression styles with anger were larger than their correlations with anxiety and depression. Gender, ethnicity, and developmental effects were found. Findings suggest that adolescent aggressive-anger expression is not…

Examined whether adolescents identify with the crowd to which they are assigned by their peers or with higher status crowds, and whether they are more likely to select the normal crowd or their peer-assigned crowd as their social-reference group. Found that specific crowds' status changes over time, and that there are age differences in…

Describes typical developmental traits for different age groups of campers to help camp counselors understand them. Lists characteristics such as curiosity for ages 5-7, group awareness for ages 10-12, conformity and self-awareness for ages 12-15, and expansive and changing ambitions for ages 15-17. (CDS)

Drug experimenters and drug abstainers were compared on identity achievement at a traditional, conservative, independent college (N=155). Drug abstainers were found to be more foreclosed than experimenters; however, in contrast to previous research, abstainers were not more identity-achieved. Additional findings and results are discussed.…