Moral desperation has traditionally been defined as an individual's lack of social adjustment patterns in regard to his/her particular stage of cognitive development. Based on the assumption that the overall behavior patterns of adolescents differ in different social class settings, moral desperation was hypothesized to be a complex,…

In order to understand the psychological meaning of menarche it is necessary to examine cultural beliefs, socialization, and actual experience. A sample of 641 fifth to twelfth grade girls, 40% of whom were premenarcheal, completed a modified version of the Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ). Half of the sample completed the MDQ according…

The Hazen Foundation screens proposals, scouts projects in all parts of the country and annually funds three dozen programs and organizations. The foundation's overriding and continuing concern has been American youth and the environment and values that guide the development of young people. (MLW)

Explores forces of tradition and community and pressures to find work and succeed in "modern" world on lives of rural youth. Examines data on 46 youth (aged 17-24) from Sawyer, Maine. Suggests lessons for social service professionals as they help youth, their families, and their communities build constructive future lives. (NEC)

Describes the interactive computer Project BARN (developed by University of Wisconsin Center for Health Systems Research and Analysis) that provides health information to adolescents practicing high-risk behaviors in sensitive areas of human sexuality, drugs, and cigarette smoking. Poses the question that such interaction could be a compromise…

This paper discusses problems faced by deaf adolescents in the areas of communication skills, education, the impact of mainstreaming, social interaction, the development of social life, and personal identity and behavior. The problems of deciding on communication methods and on a cultural identity complicate life for hearing-impaired adolescents.…

Contrasted parents whose adolescent had left home for college, with those whose child commuted to college from home. Found parent role stress for both groups significantly related to the quality of parent-adolescent communication (for mothers and fathers), and the degree of emotional connectedness (for fathers) in the family prior to the…

Presents television as an instrument through which adolescents can gain social experience and strengthen social development. Examines the link between watching television and social relationships, discussing how television viewing can provide "blueprints" for behavior in social situations. Lists four steps for using television as a learning tool.…

Assessed identification with same-sex parent and decision-making style for late adolescents classified by Marcia's (1964) criteria as identity achieved, foreclosed, moratorium, or diffused. Foreclosed subjects were more impulsive, male moratorium subjects more reflective, female moratoriums more impulsive, and diffuseds more reflective, than…

The 14 articles in this theme issue are divided into five categories: Youth and Literature--Issues and Opportunities; Portrayals of Children and Youth in Literature; Youth and Their Parents in Literature; Death and Bereavement in Young People's Literature; and Epilogue. The final section focuses on Literature and Youth Development--Implications…

Discusses the causes of insomnia, its detection, and various types of treatment. (SRT)

Recommends and offers methods for teaching decision making skills to developing adolescents using controversial topics pertinent to their stage in life. (SRT)

Youth today remains marginal to the primary institutions of American life. They no longer have opportunities within the family to develop skills, exercise responsibilities, or learn adult roles. Youths spend long periods of the day segregated in schools; longer periods in passive entertainment. Alienation results in political apathy, mental…

The predictive utility of measures of family connectedness and individuality differentiating among diffusion, foreclosure, moratorium, and identity achievement status was examined. Data were obtained from college freshmen and their parents on perceptions of independence, communication, and emotional affection. (DWH)

Association between maternal employment status and adolescent relations with parents, sibling, and peers was investigated. Males had more arguments with their mothers and siblings when their mothers worked. The need to take a family system perspective in order to understand the relationship between maternal employment and adolescent development…