A study of adolescent perceptions found that parents have more influence on their children's educational aspirations than do their children's best friends. Parental influence appears to grow stronger over time. Best friends influence girls' aspirations more than boys. (AM)

The Rational Thinking Group experience, based on cognitive restructuring exercises, significantly increased the self-concept of adolescent participants. In addition, the experience was effective in increasing scores on the behavior, anxiety, and happiness, and satisfaction scales. (Author)

Developmental characteristics of students in middle schools (grades 5-8) are detailed and a social studies curriculum tailored to their particular needs is outlined. (JMF)

The notion of a psychosocial ecosystem was presented. Highlights the importance of the social setting for the study of individual psychological functioning and personality development. Notes environmental variables which influence adolescent adjustment. (Editor/RK)

Presents evidence that differences among adolescents' behavior in romantic relationships are imbedded in both earlier and concurrent relationship experiences that foster a capacity for intimacy. Summarizes a 20-year longitudinal study based on this view, with particular attention to links between relationships with parents and interactions with…

Used new Self-Esteem Questionnaire (SEQ) to assess early adolescent feelings of self-worth and self-evaluations relating to primary contexts (peers, school, family) and two other salient domains of experience (sports/athletics, body image). Found support for the proposed developmental-ecological framework underlying the measure, as well as the…

Weaves into the adolescent concept of community those Montessori ideas related to laws of human personality, nature, and society. Examines components of Montessori practice and theory, including the importance of work, the prepared environment, social cohesion, the imagination, and the absorbent mind by linking early childhood and adolescence.…

Examined links between parental knowledge and adolescent delinquent behavior for correlated rates of developmental change and reciprocal associations from age 14 to 18. Found that parent knowledge was negatively correlated with delinquent behaviors at age 14 and knowledge increases over time were negatively correlated with increases in…

Chronicles the experiences and feelings of the authors, parents of a son who was blind from birth. It describes their encounters with the public educational system from kindergarten to college, concentrating on the boy's adolescent years, from middle school to college. Also discussed are mainstreaming, friendships, time management, contact with…

Used the experience sampling method to examine the psychological experiences of Italian adolescents in different leisure activities and their relationship to adolescent development. Found that structured activities, such as sports, hobbies, and reading related to high involvement, challenge, and experience of skills. Unstructured or relaxed…

Defines Montessori theory in terms that can interface with developmental psychology, summarizing adolescent cognitive, social, emotional, and moral outcomes. Focuses on outcomes of the third plane of education for youth in an Erdkinder setting, Montessori's "Educational Syllabus," providing clues about the future Montessori adult.…

This study examined the power of nonshared environment to differentiate adolescent monozygotic twin development and the extent to which this power varied across social structural contexts. Findings indicated that differences in maternal closeness, teacher bonding, and religious participation differentiated twins on emotional distress. Family…

Examined cross-generational influences of adolescent parenthood on psychosocial functioning with a random sample of adolescent mothers in state care due to child abuse/neglect in their family of origin. Found that participants whose main parenting figure was an adolescent parent reported higher parenting stress and lower educational attainment…

Examined associations between early substitute care and White middle-class college students' psychosocial development and academic performance. No day care in infancy followed by full-time day care at ages two and four was best predictor of above-average high school academic achievement; part-time care throughout infancy and early childhood was…

This study explores interrelationships among the following components of Erik Erikson's theory of ego identity formation: (1) the identity crisis; (2) the institutionalized moratoria; (3) the ego-superego struggle for dominance of the personality; and (4) the value orientation stages. Humanistically oriented adolescents are more likely to have a…