Adolescents of diverse ethnic background (n=201) reported whether they considered any adult other than their parents to be a very important person (VIP) in their lives and described attributes of the VIP and their relationship. Girls were more likely to have a VIP. Differences in VIP attributes were associated with adolescents' psychosocial…

Development of social identity is crucial for adolescents. Because of the difficulty in developing a healthy identity in a homophobic world, gay and lesbian adolescents are an at-risk population. The counselor's role regarding the process of social identity formation, issues of isolation, educational issues, family issues, and health risks is…

Examines the emotional and relational components of body image in French (N=80) and American (N=60) adolescents. Results indicate that major cultural differences arose from the belief that the real body and the ideal body coincide. Gender differences centered more on the level of control of body changes and on self-assessment modes. (RJM)

Addresses a paradigm shift taking place in the field of substance-abuse prevention for youth. Introduces the youth development and empowerment (YD&E) approach, an innovative program for treating substance abuse and other problem behavior. Discusses the process of implementing the YD&E program. (MKA)

Reviews literature on ego identity development. Presents a model of identity development as an iterative process of person-context transactions. Maintains that one's developmental trajectory is determined by the way conflicts arising through transactions are solved. Suggests that optimal development requires balance between assimilation and…

Discusses the benefits of school uniforms in fulfilling the educational objectives of middle school reform. Considers the role of uniforms in establishing student affiliation with the school and in adolescent development. Describes the development of a uniform program and notes issues of cost and legality. (JPB)

Investigated interrelationships among global self-concept, life events, positive subjective well being, negative affect, and life satisfaction in high school students (N=92). Results demonstrated that life events contributed significant variance to predictions of positive affect, negative affect, and life satisfaction, over that of global…

Highly recommends Rutter et al.'s work as an important review of the major research findings on adolescent problem behavior. Describes the structure of the book, summarizing each chapter. Cites as the strength of the book its concern with interdisciplinary explanations, historical trends, and international variations. (SD)

Discusses similarities and differences in the marketing of higher education and other services, especially in regard to marketing to high school students. Considers the importance of the college choice decision, the adolescent's competence to choose wisely in light of promotional efforts, family influences, and the question of what higher…

Examined friendships that are emotionally passionate yet lack sexual activity among 18- to 25-year-old sexual-minority women. Found that passionate friendships contained more characteristics of romantic friendships than conventional friendships. Same-sex passionate friendships were initiated at earlier ages than same-sex conventional friendships,…

Treatment of sexually abusive youth was initially patterned after treatment of adult sex offenders. Article discusses the important differences in understanding the developmental progression and in treatment approaches that have evolved. Supports developmental perspective for treatment of youth which views abusive sexuality as evidence of deviant…

Examined interrelations between hopelessness, loneliness, self-esteem, and personality in delinquent and nondelinquent adolescents in Russia. Found that delinquents differed from controls on most variables. Loneliness and hopelessness were highly interrelated and correlated with harm avoidance, and inversely correlated with self- directedness.…

Established normative data on the Pubertal Development Scale (PDS) (A. Petersen and others, 1988) of two population-based birth cohorts of Finnish twin boys and girls assessed at ages 11-12 and 14 years (complete data for 664 boys and 681 girls). Also reports longitudinal analyses of the associations between pubertal development and substance use.…

The nature of early adolescent social cognition as characterized by the theory of adolescent egocentrism was investigated, through three studies, by examining age differences in judgments of hypothetical peer conversations. Findings do not support the notion that adolescents believe others are attentive to and critical of their every move, or that…

Discusses the effects of violence on today's children and adolescents, focusing on: risk factors for violence (age, gender, and personal characteristics); family violence; violence beyond the family (in the media, in the community, and among peers); effects of exposure to violence related to school functioning, emotional stability, and orientation…