Tests the hypothesis of U-shaped development in graphic symbolization that postulates similarities between the drawings of preschool children and adult artists, and the loss or suppression of the early facility in middle childhood. Confirms the existence of a decline in symbolic skills in adolescent children. Presents implications for art…

Observed adolescents' interaction with a same-gender friend in grades 9, 10, and 11. Found evidence of developmental changes for both boys and girls: intimacy based on discussion and self-disclosure increased between grades 9 and 10, and capacity for sustained intimate affect increased between grades 10 and 11. Boys were more likely than girls to…

Primary and secondary schooling experiences of 21 adults (seven each from Denmark, Germany, and United Kingdom) showed positive views of primary and postcompulsory education but reservations about their progress in early secondary schooling. Results were attributed less to adolescent development factors than to management of the transition from…

Examined prosocial moral reasoning in Brazilian institutionalized delinquent, orphaned, and noninstitutionalized adolescents. Found that compared to nondelinquent adolescents, delinquent adolescents were less likely to prefer higher level, internalized types of prosocial moral reasoning and more likely to prefer lower levels of prosocial moral…

Examines whether differences between adolescent adjustment problems in divorced families and intact families can be explained by parental conflicts and parents' level of involvement. Determined the quality of mother's parenting and father's involvement explained the association between divorce and boys' externalizing problems; the quality of…

Describes components of Lake Country School's junior high school Montessori program in relation to the developmental characteristics of adolescents, their needs, and their noble aspirations. Maintains that healthy environments where young adults are challenged to act constructively and creatively will help develop youth who are integrated,…

Tested the tracking/surveillance explanation of why parental knowledge is linked to adolescent adjustment. Found that across age and informant, high parental knowledge was linked to good adjustment in Swedish 14-year-olds, but children's spontaneous information disclosure explained more of these relations than parents' knowledge. Suggested that…

Describes a school prevention program that emphasizes normal developmental needs of middle school students. The School Families groups, comprised of middle school students, teachers, and adults, met weekly during the school day to discuss issues related to academic performance, decision making, self-esteem, and social skills. Evaluation results…

Both identity development and the establishment of enduring intimate relationships become more complex for gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth. A school-wide workshop on sexual orientation was presented by student facilitators trained by school counselors. "Hate Hurts" was the overall theme. The process of the workshop, logistics, debriefing, and…

Recounts that studies of adolescent conduct have found that exemplary and antisocial behavior can be predicted by the manner in which their moral concerns are integrated into their descriptions of self. Proposes a new method, "The Youth Charter," for promoting adolescent self-identification with a coherent set of moral standards. (DSK)

Examines the extent to which flow experiences account for differences in the amount of time young musicians spend practicing and their levels of performance achievement. Suggests that the moderate achievers' musical experiences at the specialist music school may not be conducive to sustaining long-term interest and progress in music. (CMK)

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…