Numerous policies have been proposed at the local, state, and national level to restrict youth access to violent video and computer games. Although studies are cited to support policies, there is no published research on how children perceive the uses and influence of violent interactive games. The authors conduct focus groups with 42 boys ages 12…

Although parents play a vital role in fostering healthy sexuality-related attitudes and behaviors among adolescents, many parents struggle with how to address sexuality-related topics with their adolescent child. This article provides practitioners with evidence-based frameworks and guidelines on how to work with parents in order to improve their…

High schools have been described as potent breeding grounds of alienation and boredom (Bronfenbrenner, 1974; Furrer & Skinner, 2003; Marks, 2000) while recent literature has focused on student-teacher relationships and the importance of pedagogies of care (Noddings, 1992; Wentzel & Looney, 2006). This paper examines the link between social…

The Blazing the Trail summit provided a unique experience for a national dialogue on actions that need to be taken to improve policy and practice in the youth development and leadership field, and to ensure that youth with disabilities (including those with mental health needs), are included in opportunities available to all youth. The report…

This paper reports on the findings from a longitudinal survey of the drug use behaviours of young people who were attending Emotional and Behavioural Difficulty (EBD) units from the age of 11-16 years. It forms part of the Belfast Youth Development Study, a longitudinal study of adolescent drug use. This paper presents a follow-up report to a…

The "Contemporary Health Series" covers critical health and family life topics in a sequence of modules with two curricular divisions: "Into Adolescence" for middle school teachers and "Entering Adulthood" for high school teachers. This module provides high school students with specific tools to plan for their futures beyond high school. The…

This packet contains articles by and for teenagers and articles and tips sheets for educators and parents. Included are: (1) "What Teens Need from Teachers, Parents, and Other Adults" (Stephen Small); (2) "Visually Impaired, Deaf Teens Share Views"; (3) "Teens Benefit from Community Service" (Kelli Krueger); (4) "My Experience in Foster Care;" (5)…

The personality correlates of timing of puberty were investigated in this study. Estimates of total body water/body weight (TBW/BW) ratios obtained from the height and weight measurements of 85 sixth-grade girls were the primary measure of pubertal timing. Information on breast development and menarche was also obtained. Measures included scales…

The effect of the middle school experience upon the pre-adolescent's self-concept development is the focus of this report. Self-concept is defined as an understanding of the self based upon an internal frame of reference. The development of a positive self-concept has been frequently listed as a goal of the middle schools. Five research projects…

The Objective Measure of Ego Identity was administered to 350 adolescents to test the Eriksonian theory of a developmental continuum from role diffusion to identity achievement. The results offer construct validity for the dynamic process proposed by Blos and Erikson, but do not support the categorization procedure as set forth by Adams, Shea, and…

Recognizes concern that today's adolescents, including early adolescents, may be making important life choices such as parenthood before they are developmentally ready for such roles. Deals with pregnancy in adolescents and modes of responding to this phenomenon by those in the counseling and other helping professions. (Author/NRB)

Considers the adjustments adolescents must make to deviations, especially those related to physical norms. While some deviations are due to the timing of development, others are a result of genetics and are therefore permanent. Suggests guidelines for parents, teachers and counselors to assist adolescents in making adjustments to deviations. (BH)

Confirmed the relationship among identity achievement, value competence, and valuing fulfillment, in a study involving 99 college students. Suggested that identity status may reflect axiological maturity, but an increase in the level of such maturity is needed. (JAC)

Reviews 10 items from the ERIC collection covering various aspects of adolescence: the impact of pop music, attitudes about drinking, television viewing, the effect of the new morality, the adolescent learning process, popular books, attitudes toward school, and others. (JMF)

Anthony's theory of the development of extraversion in children requires that there should be a negative correlation between extraversion and intelligence after age 13 or 14. To test this Raven's Progressive Matrices and the Junior Eysenck Personality Inventory were administered to 801 adolescents. Findings did not support Anthony's theory.…