Tested the tracking/surveillance explanation of why parental knowledge is linked to adolescent adjustment. Found that across age and informant, high parental knowledge was linked to good adjustment in Swedish 14-year-olds, but children's spontaneous information disclosure explained more of these relations than parents' knowledge. Suggested that…

Describes a school prevention program that emphasizes normal developmental needs of middle school students. The School Families groups, comprised of middle school students, teachers, and adults, met weekly during the school day to discuss issues related to academic performance, decision making, self-esteem, and social skills. Evaluation results…

Both identity development and the establishment of enduring intimate relationships become more complex for gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth. A school-wide workshop on sexual orientation was presented by student facilitators trained by school counselors. "Hate Hurts" was the overall theme. The process of the workshop, logistics, debriefing, and…

Recounts that studies of adolescent conduct have found that exemplary and antisocial behavior can be predicted by the manner in which their moral concerns are integrated into their descriptions of self. Proposes a new method, "The Youth Charter," for promoting adolescent self-identification with a coherent set of moral standards. (DSK)

Examines the extent to which flow experiences account for differences in the amount of time young musicians spend practicing and their levels of performance achievement. Suggests that the moderate achievers' musical experiences at the specialist music school may not be conducive to sustaining long-term interest and progress in music. (CMK)

Discusses five Montessori insights about children's development as they relate to family and school life: independence and autonomy, community and socialization, interest in culture and morality, preadolescents' apprenticeship for adulthood, and adult acceptance of the evidence of change. Notes that underlying dynamics of home and school are alike…

In this study of 256 adolescents, it was expected that the group of adolescents referred for psychiatric treatment would have a narrower friendship network than the control group and that their friendship relations would be more conflictual and less rich in terms of attachment. The hypothesis was confirmed for the older referred adolescents. (TJQ)

Compared to non-Indian peers, reservation American Indian adolescents (ages 12-19) displayed greater frequency of gambling involvements, earlier onset of gambling experiences, and greater tendency to exhibit problematic gambling behaviors. Indian adolescents may be at greater risk due to socioeconomic status, cultural issues, increased exposure to…

Constructs an integrated model to investigate the relations among family relationship, self-concept, and delinquent behavior. Reports that a positive family relationship is critical in facilitating the development of adolescents' self-concept and in restraining them from engaging in delinquent behavior; factors associated with self-concept…

Describes results of discussions among social scientists reflecting on issues and opportunities related to youth civic engagement in the twenty-first century. Identifies specific forces, such as globalization, that must be considered by educators and policymakers. Outlines responsibilities of schools, governments, the commercial sector, community…

Discusses the central areas of dispute over character education. Outlines an agenda for character education focusing on goals and practices. Addresses appropriate goals for character education proposing that civic literacy be embraced by character education advocates. Argues that character education in practice should adopt a developmental…

Describes the application of positive youth development principles to challenges faced by adolescent females in South Africa. A mainline, Euro-centric theory, Erikson's life stages (1963), is compared with the Circle of Courage model based on Native American Tribal wisdom. The differences and correlation in these approaches are explored through…

Maintains that moral education should be at the foundation of educational reform and that education should prepare adolescents to find their place in society. Asserts that secondary level instruction, provided in a rural neutral environment and with opportunities for adolescents to work with their hands and their minds, will help to create a more…

Examined how parent-adolescent communication about initiating sex and using condoms influenced the relationship between peer norms and behavior among African American and Hispanic adolescents. Found that peer norms were more strongly related to behavior among adolescents who had not discussed sex or condoms. Communication was also related to teens…

Evaluates the identity status research paradigm; reviews studies on identity status development. Maintains that the definition of ego identity and the statuses neglect a sense of temporal-spatial continuity. Reports shortcomings in the validation of the identity statuses; empirical studies reveal no significant developmental changes in identity…