This book's author is the creator of an award-winning web site for teens and young adults. The Web site, Talk City's InSite, invites young people to share their questions and concerns about relationships. This book brings information from the web site onto the printed page. Based on hundreds of e-mails receive by the author, it discusses issues…

One notable gap in the evolving literature on bullying and victimization during early adolescence is the role that peers play in promoting such behavior by either reinforcing the aggressor, failing to intervene to stop the victimization, or affiliating with students who bully. This Spanish-language Digest looks at the limited research available on…

The first phase of a longitudinal study of effects of social origins, schooling, perceived influence of significant others, and self-concept on college aspiration is more explanatory for men than women but shows parent, teacher, and peer influence to have a major impact for all. The social-psychological theory is criticized. (MSE)

The epidemic status of teenage pregnancy, venereal disease, and rape has resulted in increased responsibilities for schools in providing human sexuality education. The PRECEDE model provides an assessment of social factors and an investigation of the behavioral causes as identified by the community. (JN)

This essay attempts to demonstrate that age segregation and subject matter specialization are two important supports of the authority of teachers and the school's ability to control students. Therefore, efforts to change these organizational patterns without considering alternative means of establishing control are doomed to failure. (Author/SJL)

Seven college students at Florida State University recognized on campus for exemplary character and service were interviewed about how college student peer groups function both to inhibit and to encourage development of character and civic responsibility. Their responses are summarized, and strategies that institutions can use to promote moral and…

Explored how fifth and sixth graders' perceptions of parenting, teaching, and school differed by maternal employment status. Found that self-competence of students with nonemployed mothers was associated with parents' achievement values; self-competence of students with employed mothers was associated with parents' school involvement. Children of…

Used the Revised Class Play to assess dimensions of peer reputation among two cohorts of ninth-grade, inner-city students. Found that popularity, isolation, aggressive/disruptive reputation, and prosocial orientation generally showed expected patterns of associations with students' adjustment, with the exception that aggression was linked with…

Investigated fourth, sixth, and eighth graders' thinking about the role of a bystander and the role of a victim in the context of aggression. Findings suggest that evaluation of behavioral responses on the part of bystanders and victims is influenced by the relationship among the parties involved. (RJM)

Assessed the characteristics that predicted the timing of first sexual intercourse in high-risk adolescents. Employed event history analyses and defined predictor variables using multimethod and multiagent assessments. Found that precocious sexual initiative can be understood using models of the etiology of other problem behavior, and that…

Examined peer group contextual effects on relations between academic achievement and social functioning among Chinese 9-, 13-, and 16-year-olds. Found that peer groups were highly homogeneous on academic achievement. Academic achievement and social adjustment were associated at within-group individual and group levels. Group academic performance…

Examined preschoolers' use of display rules, their outcome expectancies when managing negative affect, and parental perceptions of family emotional expressivity. Found that children reported expressing emotion most to fathers; boys regulated affect with mothers more than did girls. Also found that children expressed emotion when expecting help,…

Studied adolescent personal and interpersonal characteristics, including social competence and thoughts on friendship and romantic interests during a camp reunion. Found that concurrent interest in relationships is a stronger predictor of social competence for participants with anxious histories, although participants with secure histories were…

Presents recent estimates on adolescents' risk status along with a description of the characteristics of young people who typically exhibit high-risk behaviors. Reviews common components of successful interventions and proposes a comprehensive approach to program planning that combines school-based reform with community agency efforts. (GR)