The rationale, description, and evaluation of a course about adolescence taught to university students. This interdisciplinary approach includes materials from literature, philosophy, history, and the arts. Primary source material is extensively used. (Author/MLF)

Presents a conceptual and empirical framework for examining the developmental changes that romantic relationships undergo over the course of adolescence. Describes several empirical studies that have examined age differences and delineates an agenda for subsequent developmental work. (JPB)

Examines same-gender and cross-gender friendships as potential contexts for development of preferences and skills that may influence the quality of adolescent dating relationships and adult marriages. Considers how children's traditionally gender-segregated peer relationships contribute to miscommunications and power asymmetries in later…

Discusses conceptual issues involved in comprehensive understanding of processes and development of adolescent romantic relationships. Explores (1) the possible common features that regulate relationships; (2) the interplay between romantic relationships and other significant relationships in adolescence and the ways these relationships change…

Used two path models to examine the influence of ethnic identity and intergroup contact on adolescents' attitudes toward other ethnic groups: (1) ethnic identity increases with age and predicts positive in-group attitudes which contribute to positive out-group attitudes; and (2) diversity outside school leads to more out-group interaction in…

Examined adolescents' and mothers' understanding of children's self-determination and nurturance rights at home. Found that eighth- and tenth-graders were more likely than their mothers to endorse self-determination requests and less likely to support nurturance requests in hypothetical vignettes. Mothers of tenth- graders were more likely to…

This study assessed how schools, neighborhoods, nuclear families, and friendship groups jointly contribute to positive change during early adolescence. Analyses showed that the four context indices modestly intercorrelated at the individual student level, but clustered more tightly at the school and neighborhood levels. Joint influence of all four…

Examines the values of eleven to sixteen year olds (111 girls and 133 boys) in terms of their philosophies of life, fears, and underlying values. Finds that girls focus on relationships with family, friends, and boys; while activities like sports are the main focus for boys. Includes references. (CMK)

Reviews etiology and prevention literatures, exploring relationships between problem and positive youth behaviors, commonalities among predictors, and implications for prevention. Risky/unhealthy/antisocial behaviors, poor mental health, and poor academic achievement are highly prevalent, posing critical dilemmas for adults. All behaviors are…

Reviews relevant research to examine risk factors and behaviors associated with adolescent aggression and violence. Adolescent aggression and violence develop and manifest within a complex constellation of factors (individual, family, school/academic, peer-related, community and neighborhood, and situational). Different risk factors are more…

Explored the relationship between familial factors and behavior outcomes in Latino adolescents using a youth development framework. Surveys of 446 youth within an urban community indicated that higher levels of parental monitoring and familial connectedness consistently related to less problem behavior involvement. Sociocultural encouragement…

Notes that children and adolescents appear to suffer the most detrimental effects of homelessness. Discusses the problems faced by homeless youth and the educational systems that must respond to them, including causes and demographics of homelessness, detrimental effects of shelters, the victimization of homeless adolescents, and educational and…

Uses metaphor of the dance to suggest reciprocity, harmony, and a mutual exchange of leadership as key components of adolescent-adult relationships. Suggests that adolescents have high expectations of adult's character and competencies; therefore, teachers should elicit the highest values and behaviors from their students. (KDFB)

Argues that American society is homophobic. Claims that one of the negative consequences gay/lesbian youth face when living in a homophobic environment is the internalized belief that acceptance is based upon how well one can hide one's identity. Explores some of the dimensions of the gay/lesbian developmental process. (RJM)

Examined key components of the "New Look" at adolescent imaginary audience and personal fable constructs. Found that only the invulnerability and omnipotence subscales of the New Personal Fable Scale were highly related. Boys were found to believe more strongly in their own uniqueness, invulnerability, and omnipotence than were girls.…