This report of the Australian Ministerial Committee on Middle Schooling examines emerging conceptions of middle schooling and educational arguments regarding adoption of middle schooling, weighs financial implications, and provides several brief policy recommendations. Chapter 1, "Introduction," reviews the establishment of the…

The incidence of teenage depression has increased all over the world. In some populations it is has been accompanied by suicide, but suicide remains rare. Clinical depression, which entails many debilitating physical and psychological symptoms, is a serious disease that can do terrible and even permanent damage to a teenager's developmental…

Noting that during adolescence the importance of feeling intimate or close to a relationship partner (mothers, fathers, or friends) increases and that closeness to parents is associated with positive adolescent outcomes, this study examined how features of adolescent relationships are related to adolescents' experience of subjective closeness in…

This KIDS COUNT report examines trends in the well-being of Vermont's youth. The report balances at-risk youth data with survey results related to "positive youth development," an approach that promotes beneficial attributes of youth and their communities. Following an introduction and discussion of positive youth development and youth…

Sexual assault is a trauma that affects the entire family as well as the individuals involved. It is a social disease that alters human development and the ability to relate to others. Without treatment, the effects of abuse can progressively undermine and overwhelm all areas of both the abused individual's and the family's functioning. This book…

This report by the Council of Economic Advisers analyzes key trends in teen behavior, and investigates the role of parents' involvement in their teenagers' lives. The report uses data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a study of a nationally representative sample of seventh through twelfth graders, to examine the…

Research findings on the early precursors of substance use and related adjustment difficulties have led to interest in developmental models to explain problem behavior. This paper examines five major themes that characterize the relationship among social context, individual disposition, and syndromes of problem behaviors that include substance use…

Describes the program of the Turner Job Corps Center, Albany, Georgia, which provides a holistic setting for youth development emphasizing behavioral management and measurement. Academic and vocational management systems are self-paced individual mastery programs. The measurement function is carried out by computer in the Systems Support…

Studied high school students' (N=31) perceptions of significant adults as well as possible relationships between facets of alienation. Results showed parents were the adults most frequently named as significant. Teachers were not often chosen. There were no differences in adult relationship patterns between alienated and nonalienated students.…

Physical, social, and emotional changes in early adolescents and their effects on science teaching are briefly discussed. A variety of classroom activities, allowing for importance of peer group by arranging both individual and group activities, and focusing on individual growth, development, and change are suggested. (SK)

To test the hypothesis that adolescent females who are high in ego identity have high interests in religious and political values, the relationship between the ego identity status of 80 senior high school females and their response to a survey of values was examined. Results partially supported the hypothesis. (Author/GDC)

Claims that African American female adolescents have unique identity issues that structure developmental tasks. Uses data from a longitudinal study to explicate a three-dimensional model of the identity developmental process. Describes adolescents' development of skillful, unique, expressionistic, and assertive styles of dealing with perceived…

Follows 26 at-risk girls for a three-year period, pursuing the research that many girls find their voice muted in adolescence. Explores the dynamics of girls' resilience and resistance (some are "loud" in protest, others adopt a strategy of silence). Emphasizes the role of relationships in girls' lives. (LSR)

Suggests explanations for derailment of the self-continuity warranting process. Maintains that although Chandler's studies used important concepts without sufficient evidence for construct validity, such use may be justified by the need to address the high Native youth suicide rate. Concludes that Chandler et al. have begun to validate a measure…

Summarizes a courage behavior study of 1050 children and adolescents in Northrhine-Westphalia (Germany). Notes that most tests of courage are performed by 11-year-olds. Reveals that boys perform twice as many acts of courage as girls. Discusses the gender specific differences in relation to the development of children and adolescents. (CAJ)