Analyzed differences in outlook and orientation between pre-identity-formation adolescent and post-identity-formation adult. Extends Erikson's notion of personal identity by examining implications of making commitments in areas of work, family life, religion, and political ideology for ego development in adulthood. Critical psychological…

Investigated the influence of socializing agents on female athletes (N=587). Made comparisons across life-cycle states and discovered that socializing agent influences changed from being mostly parental at the under-13 life-cycle stage to mostly coach/teacher-oriented during junior and senior high school years. (BH)

Compared adolescent and adult reactions to abortion among 252 women. Compared to adults, adolescents were significantly more likely to be dissatisfied with choice of abortion and with services received, to have abortions later in gestational period, to feel forced by circumstances to have abortion, to report being misinformed at time of abortion,…

Examines participation in Girl Scouts and the use of scouting curriculum as interventions for increasing the self-esteem of female adolescents. Results show that Girl Scouts had higher self-esteem than did girls without scouting experience. There were significant differences in self-esteem by age group. Self-esteem decreased with age. (Author/MKA)

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)

Methods for investigating self-esteem may not reveal the factors on which a person's self-esteem rests. Twelve- to fourteen-year-olds identified aspects of the self which were important to them, and evaluated the degree of importance. Results of this study reveal age and gender differences in self-esteem factors. (Author/BL)

Examined sensitivity to an imaginary audience, shyness, group dependence, and self-concept in 328 adolescents. Found that ninth-graders were higher in group dependence and were more sensitive to an imaginary audience than either seventh or eleventh graders. Subjects highly sensitive to imaginary audiences projected shyness, which increased with…

Examined the selection, care, and purchase of clothing by adolescents to determine the extent these practices are performed independently or influenced by others. Developed Clothing Practice Profiles for subjects (N=541) in three age groups. Results revealed increasing frequency of independent activity in all three clothing practice areas as age…

Explored differences between 35 women who had abortions as teenagers and 36 women who had abortions as adults. Respondents reported on their premorbid psychiatric histories, the decision-making process itself, and postabortion distress symptoms. Antisocial and paranoid personality disorders, drug abuse, and psychotic delusions were significantly…

The development of a caring value orientation was investigated in four age groups: grades 6, 8, 10, and 12. Subjects (N=1,247) completed a questionnaire designed to measure preference for more caring personal values. Findings are discussed in terms of theories that hypothesize gender differences in world view. (Author/EMK)

Examined relationship between age of unmarried fathers and their self-concept and anxiety level. Twelve unmarried adolescent fathers and 12 unmarried adult fathers completed the State-Trait Anxiety Scale and the Personal Attribute Inventory. Results revealed no significant differences between adolescent and adult fathers on self-concept or anxiety…

Hypothesized that audience pressure would prove most detrimental to the skilled performance of adolescents (due to vulnerability to self-awareness) but not of children. Performances of skilled players of video games with and without audience indicated a curvilinear relationship between age and performance change which confirmed the hypothesis.…

Examined development of self-monitoring behavior during adolescence. Administered Adolescent Self-Monitoring Scale to 490 students in grades 7 through 12. Findings supported hypothesis that self-monitoring behavior increases from early to late adolescents. Found significant difference by age in overall self-monitoring behavior and in sensitivity…

Investigated different age groups' knowledge of developmental norms of children. Collected data from 280 midwestern university students through a questionnaire. Results showed that knowledge of normal development was both over- and underestimated regardless of age of student or year in school. (BH)

Investigated relationship between early sexual maturation and psychosexual behaviors of dating and sexual intercourse among national sample of adolescent girls. Found early-maturing girls more likely to have experienced earlier dating and coital onset than late-maturing peers. Blacks experienced menarche and first intercourse at earlier ages, yet…