The social and interpersonal characteristics of early adolescents are described in relation to puberty and the physical and emotional changes that are experienced by the preteen. Learning characteristics for this age group include problem-solving strategies, self-directed learning, and emerging value systems. (JN)

Contends that adolescents experience a "minority psychology" that motivates much of their behavior and that the extent to which this minority psychology will or will not lead to pathological thought and behavior can be influenced by the equanimity and rationality maintained by meaningful adults. (Author)

Students in the vocational program and those in a regular seventh grade scored higher on Anxiety, Depression, and Hostility. These differences persisted across time, except Depression, for which there was a significant interaction between time and school program with regular students reporting increased depression at the second testing. (Author)

The author introduces some constructs that provide a linkage between the Piagetian theory of cognitive development and curriculum analysis: externalization and automatization; the intellective unconscious; and the logical substructure of the task. He then offers some examples of developmental analysis of secondary level curriculum materials.…

Analysis of National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health data on 5,477 girls attending mixed-sex secondary schools found that early puberty and physical development that was advanced relative to age were related most strongly to "party" deviance (drinking, smoking, disorderly conduct), but also to minor and serious delinquency.…

Examined how family relationship quality and contact with deviant peers (CDP) contributed to change in problem behaviors, particularly whether gender of the adolescent and parent moderated these associations. Found that CDP was associated with increases in problem behaviors, whereas family influence on problem behaviors was indirect and varied as…

A theoretical model was examined linking early adolescent interpersonal relatedness and self-definition, autonomous and controlled regulation, and negative and positive life events. Findings indicated that self-criticism predicted less positive events, whereas efficacy predicted more positive events. Effects were fully mediated by absence and…

Used prospective life history data from the National Child Development Study of Great Britain to examine family life risk factors and how their effects on teen childbearing risk varied, depending on the childhood age at which they were experienced. Demonstrated that socioeconomic status, family stress, and parental involvement in education during…

This longitudinal study examined change in 220 adolescents' daily range of emotional states between early and late adolescence. Findings showed that emotional states became less positive across early adolescence; this downward change in average emotions ceased in grade 10. The greatest relative instability was during early adolescence; stability…

Examined relationship qualities and perceived social self- efficacy of 12-year-olds. Found that perceived low parental intimate support, high conflict with parents, and lower perceived self-efficacy were related to depression symptoms. Girls reported greater best friend intimate support and less conflict, greater self-efficacy, and stronger…

Explores biological and sociocultural elements as functional determinants of self-esteem that are dependent upon gender and developmental stage. Findings indicate self-esteem of early adolescent girls depends upon parental support, but for boys it depends upon a sense of mastery. In later adolescence a sense of mastery becomes important to both…

This analysis of 12,266 responses to the 3 Self-Description Questionnaires (which measure dimensions of self-concept in preadolescence) examined age and sex effects during preadolescence and early adulthood and alternative operationalizations of the proposition that self-concept becomes more differentiated with age. Well-defined factor structures…

Surveyed 547 11-year-olds concerning future hopes and worries. Re-surveyed subjects 3 years later and conducted interviews with 152 of the now 14-year-olds. Worries about employment and nuclear war appeared to predominate throughout adolescence, while proportions of students worried about unemployment, own mortality, lack of money, and Acquired…

Subjects in grades 4, 7, 10, college, and adulthood completed forgiveness interview assessing 6 stages of forgiveness development, Rest's Defining Issues Tests measure of justice development, and religiosity scale. Found strong age trends for forgiveness and justice. Second study replicated findings, supporting view that individuals' understanding…

The relationship between family interaction and formation of family-life conceptions in adolescence was studied with 26 male and 27 female 15-year-old ninth graders and their parents (n=71), using an interactional framework. The effects of open, constructive family communications and expression of marital conflicts were assessed via interviews and…