Data on nearly 400 preadolescents from a study, conducted over 3 years, of the effects of group psychotherapy on close same-gender friendships show that girls grow in intimacy whether treated or not, but only treated boys show such growth. (SLD)

Found that, although 10- to 14-year-old sons of hypertensive parents showed greater systolic blood pressure reactivity to interadult anger and to a challenging task than sons of normotensive parents, there was no consistent pattern in the response of girls. (MDM)

Examined personality traits of kibbutz children (n=130) and compared them to those of city children (n=142). Children completed Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale, Locus of Control for Children, and Persistence Scale for Children. Found differences between kibbutz and city children in locus of control, anxiety, and persistence, and also…

The relationship between field independence-dependence and self-esteem was studied in 33 preadolescent (sixth-grade) girls and 30 boys. Contrary to prediction, girls did not have lower self-esteem than boys, and the hypothesis that field-independence and self-esteem correlated negatively for girls and positively for boys was confirmed. (SLD)

Explored early socialization of beliefs and attitudes toward menarche in 258 adolescents, aged 11 to 14 years, male and female pre- and postmenarcheal, from southern Italy. Results showed a consistent lack of accurate information by a high percentage of subjects, both male and female; negative beliefs were held only by girls, boys tended to ignore…

Assessed sexual maturation and sociosexual behaviors in 101 nine- to 11-year-old low and middle income Black children. Data confirmed that girls were more advanced in sexual maturation than boys. Results of a self-report behavior scale indicated sexual behavior was related to physical development in boys but not girls. (JAC)

Assesses the social image of cigarette smoking held by early- and middle-adolescent smokers and examines whether that social image serves to motivate smoking initiation. Results indicate that the social image of both male and female smokers is an ambivalent one. (Author/MP)

Evaluated whether children view relationally manipulative behaviors as "aggressive." In study one, relational aggression was the most frequently cited angry behavior for girls' interactions; physical aggression was most frequently cited for boys. In study two, relational aggression and verbal insults were the most frequently cited harmful…

Compared significant others of Black adolescents (N=113) ages 10-14. Found differences between males and females and developmental differences between older (12-14) and younger (10-11) subjects. Found mother to be most significant other for males and females and both age groups. (Author/ABL)

A study was conducted to isolate monitoring of test performance from other forms of monitoring and determine the effect of taking a test on expectations about performance. Results were consistent with claims that developmental changes in self-regulation could be tied to developmental changes in monitoring of performance and predicting performance.…

Investigates factors of social influence strategies employed by 195 children aged 11-15 and 114 mothers. Girls reported more frequent use and success of strategies anticipating noncompliance and boys more frequent use and success of autonomous strategies. Mothers reported differential reinforcement of boys' and girls' strategies. (RJC)

Assessed sex differences in performance on the subtests of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children using more than 2,500 children ages 2-1/2 to 12-1/2 years old. Results confirmed previous research with female superiority on short-term memory tasks and male superiority on spatial-visualization skills. (Author/ABL)

Gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES) were related to career aspirations of 8- to 11-year olds (n=80). Grade, ability, and achievement levels were not related. African Americans had higher aspirations; 60% of males chose jobs requiring only high school, 74% of females chose jobs requiring college education. (SK)

Empirical studies of stress and self-esteem of early adolescents are limited. The focus of this study was to identify stressors experienced by junior high school students (N=145) between the ages of 11 and 12 years, and to determine if there was a relationship between those stressors and the students' self-esteem. Students responded to the Youth…

Examines the relationship of parental agreement in child rearing during early childhood and the psychological characteristics of adolescents. Results suggest that early family socialization experiences are important but different for boys and girls with respect to psychological content and the developmental timing of effects. (RJC)