Presents interim report on Loss & Change, preventive health education school-based program developed, in conjunction with teachers, by health workers from Australian community health agency. Describes program as generalist, exploring losses adolescents experience within context of healthy adolescent development. Sees this death education…

Focal theory is a framework for looking at psychosocial and leisure transitions in middle and later adolescence. Using cross-sectional survey data, found few gender differences in age-related relational transitions, but gender differences were apparent in shifting focuses of leisure involvement with age. Findings suggest a linkage between…

Investigates the effects of a role-taking, action-learning program on the cognitive and ego development of African American rural high school students. Main effects were assessed in two related domains: concrete to abstract thinking, and self-concept development. Results indicate significant gains in both abstract thinking and ego stage. (RJM)

Examined relationship between parental socioeconomic status (SES), sex, and initial pubertal problems among Nigerian adolescents (n=700). Found that boys from low SES groups experienced more physical problems than other groups. Low SES students experienced more health problems, and boys experienced more problems than girls. Sex was important…

Conducted three studies using early and late adolescents to examine gender differences in identity development. Found that both genders used identity statuses comparably, except for foreclosure which characterized males significantly more than females. Both genders used identity process similarly in domains of vocational choice, religious beliefs,…

Obtained data from 603 questionnaires and 60 interviews from male and female Italian adolescents on awareness of physical maturation, heterosexual relationships, motivation for early sexual experiences, and effects on personal identity. Found significant differences concerning sex and level of schooling with regard to elaboration of one's…

Based on life span attachment perspective and on identity status paradigm, this study investigated the relationship between attachment and identity in a sample of 361 Portuguese late adolescents as a function of parental and adolescent gender. The results indicated gender differences in the association between attachment variables and identity…

Uses a model of social identities to explore the incidence of cigarette smoking among adolescent girls. Found a sharp increase in girls' smoking at about 14 years of age related both to age and to puberty. The model identified "never smoked" and "regular smoker" groups but not occasional smokers. (RJM)

Investigates the concurrent correlates and developmental antecedents of personality types in a sample of 14 to 19-year-old Dutch adolescents. Three main personality types with behavioral and parenting correlates and antecedents were identified. Discussion highlights the importance of the family environment in understanding behavioral correlates of…

Secondary school students (N=12,988) completed Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status and questionnaire assessing experience with cigarettes, inhalants, alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine. Discriminant analyses of substance use, across achievement, moratorium, foreclosure, and diffusion identity statuses, yielded significant functions for…

Reports the third wave of a longitudinal study that followed 106 15-year-olds from their last compulsory year at school for 22 months. Study shows that this is a period of considerable flux in smoking behavior. Highlights the role of friendship groups and social contexts and suggests that smoking prevention programs should be developed to meet the…

Presents data from a survey of randomly selected adolescents (N=474) which examined differences between male and female sexual identities. Results indicate two main dimensions in male sexual self-concept: socioemotional and the relational. Female sexual self-concept revolved around concerns with assertiveness, such as controlling when sex occurs.…

Clarifies inconsistencies in research on family characteristics and identity formation, tests a model on family systems theory, and explores gender differences within hypothesized models. Results suggest that family context and gender role socialization are differentially related to ideological and interpersonal identity. There are some gender…

Investigated the relationship between adolescent decision-making and their sense of control over the future. Ninety-eight students (11-14 years old) participated in a program emphasizing responsibility, plans, choices, and alternatives. Results indicate that increased knowledge of decision-making raises pupils' sense of control over their…

Australian secondary students completed questionnaires on adolescent coping behavior. Found that older students used more self-blame and tension-reduction techniques than did younger students; young students used more work-related strategies than did older students; males reported using more physical recreation than did females; and females used…