Discusses five Montessori insights about children's development as they relate to family and school life: independence and autonomy, community and socialization, interest in culture and morality, preadolescents' apprenticeship for adulthood, and adult acceptance of the evidence of change. Notes that underlying dynamics of home and school are alike…

In this study of 256 adolescents, it was expected that the group of adolescents referred for psychiatric treatment would have a narrower friendship network than the control group and that their friendship relations would be more conflictual and less rich in terms of attachment. The hypothesis was confirmed for the older referred adolescents. (TJQ)

Compared to non-Indian peers, reservation American Indian adolescents (ages 12-19) displayed greater frequency of gambling involvements, earlier onset of gambling experiences, and greater tendency to exhibit problematic gambling behaviors. Indian adolescents may be at greater risk due to socioeconomic status, cultural issues, increased exposure to…

Constructs an integrated model to investigate the relations among family relationship, self-concept, and delinquent behavior. Reports that a positive family relationship is critical in facilitating the development of adolescents' self-concept and in restraining them from engaging in delinquent behavior; factors associated with self-concept…

Describes results of discussions among social scientists reflecting on issues and opportunities related to youth civic engagement in the twenty-first century. Identifies specific forces, such as globalization, that must be considered by educators and policymakers. Outlines responsibilities of schools, governments, the commercial sector, community…

Discusses the central areas of dispute over character education. Outlines an agenda for character education focusing on goals and practices. Addresses appropriate goals for character education proposing that civic literacy be embraced by character education advocates. Argues that character education in practice should adopt a developmental…

Describes the application of positive youth development principles to challenges faced by adolescent females in South Africa. A mainline, Euro-centric theory, Erikson's life stages (1963), is compared with the Circle of Courage model based on Native American Tribal wisdom. The differences and correlation in these approaches are explored through…

Maintains that moral education should be at the foundation of educational reform and that education should prepare adolescents to find their place in society. Asserts that secondary level instruction, provided in a rural neutral environment and with opportunities for adolescents to work with their hands and their minds, will help to create a more…

Examined how parent-adolescent communication about initiating sex and using condoms influenced the relationship between peer norms and behavior among African American and Hispanic adolescents. Found that peer norms were more strongly related to behavior among adolescents who had not discussed sex or condoms. Communication was also related to teens…

Evaluates the identity status research paradigm; reviews studies on identity status development. Maintains that the definition of ego identity and the statuses neglect a sense of temporal-spatial continuity. Reports shortcomings in the validation of the identity statuses; empirical studies reveal no significant developmental changes in identity…

Discusses findings from this special issue on adolescent transition to university. Focuses primarily on how findings highlight the importance of context in youth development. Concludes that articles point to the importance of studying developmental processes in college-bound students while they are in secondary school. (Author/KB)

Examined relationship between acculturation and eating-disorder symptoms in normative samples of 920 adolescents girls of high school age. Found that acculturation was positively associated with structured-interview defined partial syndrome eating disorders in Hispanic girls, but not in Asian or European-American girls. There was no relation…

This study examined the importance of personality characteristics to identity formation using data from Terman's longitudinal study of high IQ children. Results indicate that positive traits such as perseverance, purposiveness, desire to excel, and self-confidence are conducive to a successful identity formation and to the adoption of the…

Parent responses to 4-H surveys evaluating the outcomes of camp experiences indicate that children improved most in areas of social competencies and self-confidence. Caring staff and exposure to a variety of learning opportunities were two of the most positive aspects of the camp experience. Similar research is being conducted by various national…

Explores the teaching of gender history within secondary education, focusing on the creation and development of a course on gender taught at the Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. Addresses why teenage students are resistant to seeing the effects of gender. (CMK)