The relationships between delinquent behavior and labor market experiences of teenagers are examined in this study. Variables include incidence of self-reported delinquent behavior, gender, race, age, suspension from school, and current residence. Findings and the implications for educational policy are examined. (CT)

Pinpoints several problems in youth services in general and in rural areas in particular. Suggests strategies for overcoming these obstacles: packaging services which meet child's total needs, establishing youth service bureaus to coordinate families and human services resources, and using natural helping networks of the community. (Author/AH)

Discusses social belonging as both a health-related goal and an antidote for emotional crises. Examines how social connectedess represents both a content and process variable in Northern Scottish young people's discussion of their health concerns. Analyses reveal both the potency of all these concerns and participants' belief that skills acquired…

Rural youth in economically troubled regions develop plans for their future in a context in which opportunities for educational and occupational success generally lie elsewhere, prompting the need to migrate. This study investigates the links between rural adolescents' residential preferences and their plans for the future, perceptions of local…

Time spent in freely chosen leisure activities offers a distinct developmental context that can support positive youth development; however this potential for growth depends in part on adolescent interest and engagement in their free time activities. Research indicates that many adolescents report experiencing boredom, instead of interest, in…

Values are a central concept in understanding and predicting human behavior. Value priority differences have been shown to predict important political, social, and economic attitudes and behaviors. The purpose of this study was to identify differences and similarities among the value hierarchies of adolescents who have never tried alcohol,…

To understand the limitations and effects of the environment on gifted and rural youth, both delinquent prone and nondelinquent prone, a study was designed to measure 95 gifted sixth graders' perceptions of their environmental support and environmental availability (availability of activities in which students were interested). To investigate the…

By the late 1960s, rural youth seemed to have become very similar to urban youth in their value orientations, aspirations, and behavioral patterns. As a result of the changing moral standards, alternative family forms, and new forms of community life, youth need help in selecting among the various alternatives. Therefore, one of the most important…

Details the needs identified by parents, youth, and others concerning the role played by rural parents in the career development of young people. Presents findings from a series of focus group interviews. The identified needs reflect potential activities which parents, schools, and others might use to help rural youth. (RJM)

Evaluates the impact of 4 career development curricular strategies and emotional/instrumental support in preparing rural adolescents to make successful post-high school transitions. Curriculum strategies and perceived support helped 8th-, 10th-, and 12th-grade students attain critical aspects of career development, enhanced student satisfaction,…

Among 3,907 seventh-twelfth grade students in rural Illinois, ages at first use for alcohol, tobacco, and drugs were lower than national averages. Specific drug and alcohol education programs should be implemented before age of first use for 10 percent of students. Contains 20 references and 3 data tables. (SV)

Studied the mechanisms by which social competence may be associated with substance use during early adolescence in a sample of 1,568 rural junior high school students. Structural equation modeling indicated that social competence had a direct protective association with substance use. Discusses mediating factors. (SLD)

Alcohol use among urban youth has been regularly surveyed, but assessment of rural residents is rare. Information about factors associated with attitudes toward drinking could be especially useful to school counselors. This study used questionnaires to investigate the association of attitudes toward alcohol and alcohol use with the following…

Youth clubs can counter the many social changes taking place in Britain which have led in recent decades to disadvantagement for rural young people. At 2%, the British agricultural work force is the lowest in the world, unemployment is particularly high in rural areas, public transport continues to fall at 1% per year, and centralisation of…

It is hypothesized that the process of development of orientations toward marriage and procreation will differ for Negro and white girls in terms of goal definitions, import accorded the goals, and dynamics of these orientations. Regarding the latter, it is expected that orientations of both groups will become more realistic over time,…