Investigated responses of menarcheal age females to menarche. Results from 95 girls indicated that premenarcheal girls thought menses was more debilitating than did postmenarcheal girls. Subjects who had been menstruating longer considered menses natural event but denied its effects. Found no significant difference in overall self-esteem and…

Administered questionnaires to 272 preadolescents to assess their degree of parent-peer compliance. Results revealed that, on most items, youths were clearly parent compliant. There was, however, a significant age trend in the direction of peer compliance, with males demonstrating the greatest degree of change. (Author/NRB)

Examined the influence of chumship relationships and altruistic behavior on loneliness in 116 students aged 12-14 who completed four measures. Results indicated that chumship relationships did not account for differences in loneliness. Students reporting close chumship and weak altruistic behavior were loneliest. (JAC)

Examined longitudinal change and stability in daydreaming and curiosity among 74 gifted children and adolescents. Findings suggest pattern of both change and stability in intellectual styles over time. Measures which tap content of daydreams changed over time, but measures of process or ways of relating to the environment, such as curiosity and…

Investigated loneliness of rural Nebraskan adolescents (n=387)) in relation to aspects of their self-esteem. Gathered data using the Loneliness Inventory (Woodward, 1967), Bachman's (1970) Self Esteem Scale, and Coping Strategies Inventory (Woodward, 1987). Results indicated that rural adolescents had extremely high loneliness scores and that 10…

Tested 149 adolescent residents of county center for juvenile status offenders. Data analysis revealed eight variables discriminating between first-time and recidivist runaways. Variables characterized recidivist runaway as urban Caucasian having previous contact with agency; staying at center average of 13.6 days; and having lower general…

Surveyed over 700 12-year-olds and their parents concerning their attitudes toward the ensuing teenage years. Their reponses support in large measure the developmental tasks expounded by Robert Havighurst: the need to achieve independence, their concern with social relationships, and the acceptance of physical appearance. Parents' concerns about…

Explored early socialization of beliefs and attitudes toward menarche in 258 adolescents, aged 11 to 14 years, male and female pre- and postmenarcheal, from southern Italy. Results showed a consistent lack of accurate information by a high percentage of subjects, both male and female; negative beliefs were held only by girls, boys tended to ignore…

Assessed sexual maturation and sociosexual behaviors in 101 nine- to 11-year-old low and middle income Black children. Data confirmed that girls were more advanced in sexual maturation than boys. Results of a self-report behavior scale indicated sexual behavior was related to physical development in boys but not girls. (JAC)

Analyzed changes in parent-child relationship from data collected from mothers, fathers, and oldest children in 110 families whose oldest child was 11, 14, or 17. Results provide insight into expectations and processes involved in revising the quality of parent-child relationships during early adolescence. Socialization for independence during…

Examined hypothesis that adolescent problems are positively associated with overt and covert forms of parental conflict. Compared observed marital interactions in families of adolescents with problems to those in families of adolescents without problems. Findings suggest that both overt parental conflict and some forms of covert conflict play…

Examines a physical activity intervention package's effects on the self-esteem of girls (N=181) ages nine to 16. Results indicate that those with low self-esteem and low physical self-concept benefited most from the intervention. The age group that experienced the most significant results viewed the program in the most positive light. (RJM)

Sexual attitudes, knowledge, and contraceptive choice questionnaires were completed by 22 young adolescents and their parents to examine relationship between these variables and parent-child communication. Found no significant differences between adolescents in high and low communication families; but correlation between parents' and children's…

Using Erikson's theories on identity development as a framework, this paper examines the motives for and contexts of suicide among preadolescents, adolescents, and young adults, identifies specific school-age populations that are vulnerable to suicide, and discusses implications. (Contains 45 references.) (GCP)

Examines recurrent psychosomatic symptoms and symptom clusters among Israeli school children (n=259). Results of a questionnaire that asked about the frequency of 8 psychosomatic and 8 organic complaints indicated that girls had a higher prevalence than boys for 8 of the symptoms, and that abdominal pain and headache were each reported as an…