Adolescence is a time of considerable development at the level of behaviour, cognition and the brain. This article reviews histological and brain imaging studies that have demonstrated specific changes in neural architecture during puberty and adolescence, outlining trajectories of grey and white matter development. The implications of brain…

Raising Healthy Children (RHC) is a preventive intervention designed to promote positive youth development by targeting developmentally appropriate risk and protective factors. In this study, the authors tested the efficacy of the RHC intervention on reducing adolescent alcohol, marijuana, and cigarette use. Ten public schools, which comprised 959…

This qualitative study used data from semi-structured interviews with eight school counsellors working with adolescents in secondary education and asked them how they perceived counselling interventions as helping to raise achievement. The present context in secondary education is perceived as results led. This adheres to government policy as…

Recent work in the field of child and adolescent social skills is synthesized in this volume with new and unpublished information. The first three chapters provide a foundation for conceptualizing and assessing child and adolescent social skills. Chapter 1, "The Nature and Value of Social Skills," provides a definition, examples, historical…

Theory and research related to early adolescent sex role development needs to be addressed from both a life-span and an ecological perspective. A study was conducted to examine the development of female early adolescent sex role attitudes and behaviors in an ecological context as defined by Urie Bronfenbrenner. Data were the results of a…

The effects of being six months younger than grade level were studied using seventh through twelfth grade students in Montgomery County (MD) Public Schools. The racial, sexual, and academic characteristics of the accelerated students and the effects of age/grade differences on selected academic areas and social activities were examined using…

One of a series of papers which focus on 10- to 15-year-old adolescents, this publication describes these young people as they work through developmental tasks in environments (families, communities, peer groups, and schools) that are part of their daily lives. This description is used as a basis to accomplish the following: (1) a further…

Argues that current adolescent literature has as its recurring hero the outsider and that unlike literature of the 1950s which encouraged conformity, today's literature for young adults encourages them to remain individuals even at the cost of breaking with society. (SRT)

Questionnaires and interviews completed by 60 gifted adolescents indicated that both sexes were highly sensitive to societal pressures. Females accepted their body image, social image, and inner emotions better than the males who perceived themselves as having poorer peer relationships and less leadership potential. Case studies illustrate…

The counseling and consultation component of Duke University's Talent Identification Program Summer Residential Program was developed to address the unique psychosocial and emotional needs of gifted adolescents. Focus is on counseling interventions; involvement of residential, academic, and administrative staff; and outreach workshops. (CB)

Recent research has begun to examine heterosexual male behavior and the early experiences of masculinity. This pilot research project used naturalistic inquiry methodologies to investigate the experience and education of boys/young men in relation to matters of sexual health and masculinity and to develop an understanding of the relationship among…

The partnership described focuses on a severe problem with environmental pollution at Akwesasne, the Mohawk reservation situated along the St. Lawrence River, at the juncture of New York, Quebec, and Ontario. Industries are located along the river and its tributaries and in past years have discharged PCBs (and other toxins) into the waterways in…

Examined individual differences in friendship characteristics and their cross-sectional and longitudinal interrelations with adolescent problems. Assessed four salient friendship characteristics: reciprocity of relations, overt hostility, covert hostility, and self-disclosure. Suggests that adolescent problem behaviors have a more potent…

To evaluate the part that nascent skeptical doubt plays in shaping adolescent social-cognitive development, 61 high school students clearly classified as in concrete or formal operational stages of cognitive development completed a measure of epistemic stances. A relationship was found between cognitive and epistemic development. (SLD)

The conflict created between the need to belong and the development of sexual identity in gay and lesbian adolescents is investigated. Using naturalistic inquiry, interviews were conducted with gay/lesbian youth who participated in high school support groups. One particular example is discussed in relation to educational and counseling issues.…