Examines sexual knowledge, attitudes and practices of 84 Mexican-American adolescents. Findings show low sexual knowledge for all subgroups. Few sexually active subjects practiced contraception. Majority indicated birth control makes sex seem preplanned. Respondents appeared traditional in sex attitudes, with virginity and birth-control…

Addresses concern that school counselors are not provided with guidelines for how to use knowledge on moral development when working with children in school settings. Provides framework wherein commonly used counseling techniques can be tailored and refined to match the client's stage of moral development. (NB)

Discusses the four "planes of development" posited by Maria Montessori: (1) from birth to age 6; (2) from age 6 to 12; (3) from age 12 to 18; and (4) full maturity. Although Montessori schools have been successful in dealing with children during the first two planes, efforts need to be focused on adolescents at the third stage. (MDM)

This interview focuses on the Montessori adolescent program begun by John McNamara in 1978 at Ruffing Middle School in Ohio, describing the adolescent-centered curriculum, activities, and materials utilized in the program. Suggests that such programs need to provide an environment where children can first and foremost experience community,…

Proposes a perspective for understanding the development of adolescent sexual intimacy. Describes a "transitional stage" in which adolescents, driven by developmental needs, experiment with sexual behaviors, and which results in the ability to achieve "relational" sexual intimacy when completed. Discusses problems and implications for counseling…

Assessed Type A behavior pattern for 122 teenagers who had heart rate measured during rest and presentation of mental arithmetic stressor under timed and competitive conditions. Examined whether sex, age, task performance, and behavior pattern predicted heart rate reactivitiy. Found no significant main effects for behavior pattern, sex, or age;…

Considers who is responsible for leading students through the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Discusses role of the school and of school personnel in helping students make this transition. Contends that counseling offices must be safe havens for students to divulge their concerns without fear of retribution. (NB)

Examines the changing-voice process by interviewing 141 males including changing-voice boys (both singers and non-singers) and men (both singers and non-singers at time of voice change). Finds that boys remember more about voice change than do men, singers noticed voice-change signs more, and mixed feelings about voice change were expressed. (DSK)

Hypothesized that parenting exhibits either a compensatory or buffering effect on age-related increases in adolescent internalizing and externalizing problems. Collected data for five years from mothers, fathers, and adolescent children. Found significant gender differences in growth trajectories of externalizing and internalizing problems.…

Investigated leisure-activity correlates for German adolescents. Found that risky leisure was related to West Germany residency, higher childhood competitive play/creative activities, and lower parental monitoring. Social-romantic leisure was related to being female and higher competitive play. Creative-introspective leisure was associated with…

Investigates the association between quality of life and attitudes toward, and experience of, sexual activities during adolescence. Findings demonstrate the importance of relationships and sexual experience to satisfaction with life. Discusses results in terms of the significance of sexuality for adolescents' general well-being. (Author/GCP)

Study examines whether the concerns of teenagers calling a peer listening service are representative of the concerns of teenagers in the area served. Results indicate that students' biggest concerns involve family problems, peer relationships, self-esteem, and school problems. Concludes that calls to the teen line are representative. (Author/GCP)

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)