Analyzes assessment forms of 670 South African adolescents referred over four years to an adolescent psychiatric unit to establish how they entered mental-health care. Examines referral sources and appropriateness of referral. Although the majority of referral came from non-mental-health trained sources, the referrals were clinically appropriate.…

Compared 24 incarcerated juvenile offenders and 24 nonoffending adolescents on Revised Behavior Problem Checklist (RBPC). Offenders scored higher (indicating more psychopathology) on RBPC subscales which represent externalizing types of problems. Offenders also scored significantly higher on subscales reflecting internalizing problems and…

Profiles characteristics of adolescent suicide attempters (N=27) and the treatment they received in a pediatric emergency room. Results demonstrated that the evaluation of suicidal adolescents cared for in a pediatric facility may be episodic. Suggests need for comprehensive program to approach the problem. (Author/ABL)

Investigates rural and urban adolescents' perceptions of mental health. Provides insight into rural and urban students' perceptions of problematic behaviors, who should intervene, and how. Recommends that health care providers help adolescents expand their range of coping behaviors, especially in regard to alcohol abuse and violence. (Author/GCP)

The construct of peer pressure was examined as part of a qualitative study of the determinants of mental health for 41 high-risk adolescents. While the concept of peer pressure enables adults to explain youths' troubling behaviors, content analysis of the participants' accounts of their lives reveals peer pressure to be a myth. (Author/MKA)

Examined characteristics of 56 male street children in Colombia through participant observation and standardized psychological test scores. Data indicated that subjects' mental health was adequate. Two different styles of street life were found--gamines (those who chose to leave home) and chupagruesos (those who were abandoned). Found that…

Reports on a study that explored adolescent women's (N=1,025) emotional problems, suicidal behavior, and the frequency and type of sexual assault they experienced in school. Results indicate that 23% of women suffered at least one assault. A correlation emerged between number of assaults and measures of emotional disorder. (RJM)

Examined whether depressed adolescent mothers experienced more psychosocial stressors than did nondepressed mothers and which stressors best predict maternal depression. Findings from 154 adolescent mothers revealed that depressed mothers consistently reported more problems in most areas of psychosocial functioning. Best predictors of maternal…

Investigates the effects of a unit of instruction in mental health on rural adolescents' conceptions of mental illness and their attitudes about seeking professional help for emotional problems. Results indicate that attitudes and conceptions improved and had not deteriorated significantly 12 weeks later. (Author/MKA)

Assessed efficacy of rational emotive education (REE) as mental health program for adolescents. High school juniors and seniors (N=109) were divided into experimental and control groups. Experimental subjects received 12 biweekly sessions of REE. Results from pre- and posttesting revealed significant positive changes in use of more adaptive…

Investigated the relation of change in maternal depressed mood across time and adolescent functioning. Analyses revealed that increased depressed mood across one year predicted teacher reports of higher levels of externalizing and internalizing problems and lower levels of social competence. A static maternal depressive mood did not forecast…

Results confirmed that private speech continues through late adolescence. Relationship between private speech and observer indicates that social situations may profoundly effect its occurrence. Certain categories of private speech correlated positively or negatively with task performance. Subjects' private descriptions of activity and…

Describes the development of a pilot preventive mental-health intervention, the Personal and Racial/Ethnic Identity Development and Enhancement (PRIDE) program, designed to provide components of parenting that are necessary for promoting positive self-image in ethnically marginalized adolescents and that are typically lacking in the group…

Surveyed 43 female and 34 male high school students who denied any use of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco. Compared "nonuser" sample to "user" sample. "Nonuser" students reported better physical and mental health, academic achievement, and their parents exhibited a significantly lower rate of similar problems. (Author/BH)

As part of a project aimed at developing an adolescent health education program, 100 subjects aged 12 through 13 and 16 through 17 were studied to determine the possible relationship between self-esteem, value of health, and positive health behavior. Both factors were found to be significantly correlated with certain dimensions of health behavior…