Contrary to previous research, this study found striking differences in the dental experiences, practices, and beliefs of inner city and suburban seventh graders but few differences between groups with regard to compliance with school-based preventive programs. (GC)

Significant attitudinal differences found between rural and urban girls are as of family, religion, morality, premarital sex, and education suggest need for separate curriculums in family living to meet differing needs. Complete thesis copies available upon request from author, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, 58102. (CJ)

Studied beliefs about the motivation and ability of young people to contribute to their communities and tested the hypothesis that adults with a strong sense of community would have more positive views of young people. Telephone survey responses of samples of 321 and 430 adults shows that society may be receptive to a new frame of mind about young…

Explores the interpretation of experiences and world views of young people in deprived inner-city neighborhoods. Findings from six focus groups made up of 44 adolescents suggest the combination of mainstream and ghetto-specific norms in the interpretations these young people give to their environment and the ways in which experiences shape their…

Discusses the reasons why many poor, urban Black adolescents intentionally have children despite the debilitating life consequences. Emphasizes a family pattern in which early parenthood is repeated from generation to generation. (FMW)

The goal of this study was to extend what is currently understood regarding attitudes toward the homeless population. The study focused on how homeless and nonhomeless adolescents attribute the causes of homelessness. Grounded in attribution theory, the study hypothesized that nonhomeless adolescents would ascribe causality to dispositional or…

Qualitative research with 127 low-income young men and women, aged 14 to 30, in Rio de Janeiro found rigid gender roles with males displaying widespread "machista" attitudes (an exaggerated deep structure of masculinity) and acceptance of violence against women that was greater in low-income urban areas. Implications for working with…

Books in the Opposing Viewpoints Series present debates about current issues that can be used to teach critical reading and thinking skills. The variety of opinions expressed in this collection of articles and book excerpts explore many aspects of juvenile gangs. Some youths join gangs of their own free choice, to satisfy ego or greed. Others are…

Health concerns facing adolescents of color in Minnesota were studied through survey responses of 126,000 public schools students in grades 6, 9, and 12 who participated in the 1995 Minnesota Student Survey. These findings were supplemented by focus group discussions held with 90 young people from Minneapolis and St. Paul. Survey results are…

In a study of 121 African-American urban adolescents, the use of spiritual support as a means of coping was found to be significantly related to psychological well-being and adjustment. The participants were high school freshmen in a midwestern city in an area where the student attrition rate had ranged from 55 to 65% over a 5-year period.…

The National Environmental Education and Training Foundation commissioned a survey on environmental attitudes and behaviors of disadvantaged youth in America to identify the critical gaps in environmental education so that resources can be targeted more effectively. Phase 1 consisted of qualitative research among disadvantaged students through…

In 1997, the National Campaign To Prevent Teen Pregnancy convened nine focus groups of parents of teens and other adults who work with teens such as teachers, clergy, coaches, youth recreation specialists, youth-serving organization staff, and community outreach workers. This report publishes the results of these focus groups, which involved 57…

The 1978 study, which was the first to use the Offer Self-Image Questionnaire (OSIQ) with rural youth, compared the self-image of rural and urban adolescent girls and sustained the hypothesis that adolescents in larger communities think more highly of themselves than adolescents in rural communities. Most previous studies, ambiguous with regard to…