Explores how ethnicity, a discrete variable, and the continuous variables of a person's ethnic identity and self-construal contribute to the use of particular coping strategies. Results supported the hypothesis that ethnicity as a discrete variable is not associated with coping, but that ethnic identity and self-construal are. (Contains 48…

Surveyed seventh-grade students from two school districts in rural North Carolina to determine the prevalence and correlates of smokeless tobacco use. Of those reporting use of smokeless tobacco, virtually all were male. Locus of control of "occasional" users was significantly more internal than those reporting "regular" use.…

Reports on a study in which two Israeli seventh-grade classes, one consisting of mostly females and the other gender balanced, were monitored. The two teachers manifested different communication styles and did not have any bias against females. Findings indicate that gender, academic composition, and teacher communication style are important…

Assessed adolescents' views concerning conventional war and compared views to those of adolescents 15 years ago. Surveyed 362 seventh graders regarding conventional warfare and United States military involvement in Latin America. Compared to adolescents in 1971, adolescents in 1986 were somewhat more accepting of war. Many were skeptical of…

Examined relationship between adolescent pubertal status, the affective quality of family relations, and the early adolescent's exploration of a sense of ego identity in families (N=51) with seventh-grade adolescents. Results revealed that affective quality of parent-child relationships and pubertal status of adolescent appeared to influence…

Surveyed seventh grade students and teachers from 23 schools to determine association between teacher attitudes, behavioral intentions, and smoking behavior and prevalence of student smoking. Teacher attitudes toward smoking policies were strongly related to current smoking behavior of teacher but not consistently related to student smoking.…

Examined effects of three abstinence sex education programs on student attitudes toward sexual activity. Administered programs to seventh and tenth graders in three school districts. Independent variables were program, grade level, gender, and pre/posttest. Dependent variable was combined and averaged response to 12 questions. Found four-way…

Tested model of middle school science and mathematics achievement with national probability sample of 3,116 seventh grade students. Collected data from students and parents over three time periods in seventh and eighth grades. Concluded that, although prior achievement had dominant influence in schooling process, other variables including parental…

Conducted a psychologically-oriented intervention program in addition to a conventional curriculum for adolescents (N=9) with behavior problems. Adolescents completing the program manifested less disruptive classroom behavior, increased their classroom participation, and displayed a more positive attitude toward school following participation.…

Conducted 4-month participant/observation and 52 interviews with sixth and seventh graders. Identified six categories that students viewed as being their responsibilities for learning: doing work, obeying rules, paying attention, learning or studying, trying/making effort, and responsibility as something given or taken. (Author/NB)

A sample of 20 father-present and 20 father-absent middle school boys rated each other on peer adjustment and self-image. Results indicate that father-absent boys evidence a poorer sense of masculinity as well as poorer interpersonal relationships than do father-present boys. (JPS)

Tests the hypothesis that students learn best when teachers use strategies consistent with students' temperament-based learning style. Analysis of 417 seventh graders did not support the hypothesis--student achievement was significantly higher when instructional strategies that were designed to promote personalized learning were used. Implications…

Tested the role of social support from parents and peers as a mediator in the relationship between an adolescent's self-concept and residential relocation. Analysis of mobility and self-concept in a sample of 205 students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades indicated that social support attenuated a negative effect of mobility on specific…

Explored possible link between development of moral reasoning/behavior and metacognition. Examined awareness of moral processes involved in moral reasoning and behavior in 139 adolescents in grades 7, 9, and 12. Found number of significant moral metacognition-reasoning-behavior correlations. Findings support notion that specific types of metamoral…

Evaluated ability of four-factor psychosocial model to explain adolescent drug involvement. Findings from 1,050 seventh- and eighth-grade students revealed that four-factor model offered concise theoretical model of underlying psychosocial determinants of adolescent drug use. Results indicated need for children to bond with peers, parents, and…