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…

Contends that, with childhood predispositions, developmental tasks of adolescence influence degree and course of homosexuality. Notes different types of homosexuality that emerge in adolescence which are influenced by different psychodynamic conditions in each stage of adolescence. Changing developmental roles in relation to individuation, object…

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…

Reviews past five years of professional literature on adolescent sexuality to determine factors that influence adolescent sexuality. Discusses importance of family and religion on sexual attitudes and behaviors, how sexual activity is related to other age-related behaviors and delinquency, relationship between early coital behaviors and risk of…

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…