Examined issues facing Singapore youth. Major problems reported by 220 high school aged youth were pressure about schoolwork, worry about future, and needing help with schoolwork. Significantly larger numbers of lower-class youths reported problems with parents, sex education, self-concept, worries about work, worries about future, recreation…

The construct of peer pressure was examined as part of a qualitative study of the determinants of mental health for 41 high-risk adolescents. While the concept of peer pressure enables adults to explain youths' troubling behaviors, content analysis of the participants' accounts of their lives reveals peer pressure to be a myth. (Author/MKA)

Analyzed 69 narrative accounts of successful and unsuccessful attempts by high school students to say no to drug offers. Found peer pressure applied in approximately 70 percent of offers. Much of pressure was applied after refusal of initial offer. Simple offers were more likely with alcohol; drug offers were more likely to be persuasive and to…

Literature review on social impact of high school revealed six themes which suggest that high school students have limited opportunities for flexible self-definition. It appeared that, as a result of treatment by authority figures and strong pressures toward conformity, many adolescents failed to learn extent of their rights or effective…

Questionnaire responses from upper-status junior and senior high school students show the importance of perceived parental pressure in understanding adolescent self-esteem and deviant behavior. Adolescents who feel unduly pressured to achieve in school are likely to report low self-esteem, deviant activity, and feelings of inability to reach goals…

Describes Under Pressure Program, innovative communication-centered approach designed to involve Chicago public junior and senior high school students in considering problems and prevention of adolescent substance abuse. Presents four integral parts of Under Pressure format: faculty/staff community inservice; theatrical performance;…

Examines verbal and physical intimidation and physical violence in high school athletics by program and sport. Antecedents were identified via principal component analysis, including contextual setting, attitude, pressure, and coaching. Coaching was the only significant overall predictor and only significant predictor of verbal intimidation in…

Suggests that the high incidence of anorexia nervosa in adolescent girls may be related to developmental sexual pressure. Symptoms appear with the onset of puberty and are related to physiological and psychological changes. (JAC)

Young female offenders (n=29) and female high school students (n=47) were compared in terms of delinquent behavior and relationships with their best female friend and peer group. Results indicated friendships of delinquent and nondelinquent female adolescents are essentially similar despite higher levels of peer pressure among delinquents. (BF)

Questionnaire and interview data from 37 high school students suggest that presence of at least one parental figure with whom adolescents could talk openly was associated with lower levels of all substance use (cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, other drugs). Found no evidence that openness with close friend or perceived pressure from friends was…

Interviewed junior high school students regarding sexual activity. Females were less likely to have "ever had sex." More males anticipated partner pressure for sex and believed they might have sex before marriage. Among nonvirgins there was little gender difference in frequency or recency. Asserts that understanding adolescent sexual…

Two focus groups of high-risk inner-city African-American and Caucasian adolescent girls (15 to 16 years old) were organized to explore issues related to sexual decision making. Transcripts of the groups were reviewed for recurrent themes and viewpoints. Verbatim examples are presented. Participants reported pressures to have sex and a lack of…