Examined contributions of physical attractiveness and physical effectiveness to self-esteem among adolescents in grades 7, 9, and 11, and college freshmen. Both attractiveness and effectiveness were significantly related to self-esteem of males and females. Attractiveness and effectiveness did not appear to be differentially important to…

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…

Examines family role expectations of Palestinian adolescents from the West Bank and Gaza Strip, noting the impact of modernization and participation in intifada. Surveys of ninth graders and their parents indicate that students desire and anticipate having traditional families. Gender differences exist in perceptions of future gender roles.…

This study investigated how social group status and group bias are related to adolescents' reasoning about social acceptance. Ninth and eleventh-grade students (N = 379) were asked to make judgments about the inclusion of individuals in school activities based on their peer crowd membership. The results of the study revealed that both…

The prevalence of bullying and victimization by gender, grade level, and race/ ethnicity was examined among a sample of low socioeconomic, Black and Hispanic 6th- to 12th-graders in a large urban school district in Texas. Bullying and victimization were measured using specific behaviors. Students were classified as bullies (7%), victims (12%),…

The connection between out-of-school activities and school engagement was examined in 140, 6th through 9th grade African American adolescents. Youth's out-of-school activities were measured with a series of 7 nightly phone calls and focused on time in structured (homework, academically-oriented, extracurricular/sports) and unstructured (watching…

It has been suggested that adolescents in the United States do not get enough individual attention and guidance from adults. This study was conducted to investigate the relationships adolescents have with adult friends or mentors. Eighth- and ninth-grade students (N=299) completed anonymous surveys about discussing important things with other…

In spring of 1990, pursuant to the federally funded School Health Education Project to Prevent the Spread of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, an annual survey was conducted of Illinois ninth graders (n=1,181) to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs concerning Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Findings from the 1990 survey are…

The "Perceptual Preferences" section of the Learning Styles Questionnaire (Dunn and Dunn, 1975) was administered to 170 ninth grade students with self-reported measures of self-esteem, general affect, and achievement (i.e., grade-point average). Data were analyzed to determine if modality preferences are a significant component of student learning…

This study determines that adolescents' attitudes toward older persons, while not negative as originally supposed, can be changed in a more positive direction through planned educational experiences. Situational and personal characteristics account for variance in pretest attitudes evidenced toward the aged. The study was conducted on ninth-grade…

The extent to which smokers as compared to non-smokers recognize their failure to achieve was studied. The subjects were 80 ninth grade pupils, half of whom smoked. A nine point self-anchoring Expectation scale was developed to determine how closely the subjects came to meeting the perceived expectations of their parents, their school, their…

While holding the influence of socioeconomic status constant, the relationship between locus of control and academic achievement, anxiety, and level of aspiration was examined among 2,438 ninth-grade Israeli-Jewish students of Asian or African background, and European, American or Israeli backgrounds. (Author/KC)

Examined school identification among African American adolescents, interviewing 16 low-income, urban ninth graders. Gender and ability group differences were investigated through an assessment of students' perceptions of teacher feedback and support and perceptions of the roles and purposes of school. Results suggested patterns across gender and…

Study of problems experienced by ninth and eleventh grade Israeli students (n=1,645) indicated that younger adolescents were concerned with studies/career problems and with social "I"; older adolescents were concerned with existential issues and army/national service. Boys were concerned with existential issues, army/national service,…

Describes a modest afterschool rites-of-passage program for District of Columbia ninth graders that provides doses of African culture, practical skills, adult guidance, and community service opportunities. The program is reinforced by a cross-cultural junior high curriculum drawing from traditional African wisdom and modern pragmatism. (MLH)