Investigated unmarried young adults' (N=283) contraceptive behaviors and attitudes. Results suggest that effective contraceptive behavior associated most strongly with respondents' perceiving relatively few barriers to their use of contraception, their maintenance of extensive interpersonal skills, and their regarding peer norms as consistent with…

Examined identity, ego, and career development patterns of 30 immigrant young adults in a longitudinal study. Findings indicated increases in ego and identity development. Most subjects specialized in science and technology. Identity themes included strong affiliation with family and cultural group and acceptance of life in the United States. (JAC)

Administered Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to 104 young adult cross-country hitchhikers. Results displayed predominance of intuitive and feeling functions among subjects, and the utilization of perceptual function in dealing with the environment. Findings suggest a personality which is impulsive and autonomous, having a high degree of tolerance for…

Compared three models to predict recidivism in juvenile offenders. Discriminant analyses performed on data from 91 juvenile parolees (42 nonrecidivists, 49 recidivists) revealed that Orange County Risk Assessment Instrument and Arizona Juvenile Risk Assessment Form were able to predict recidivism 18-22 percent better than chance. Contra Costa Risk…

Assessed whether capacity for self-reflection in late adolescent females was related to their level of identity development using female college students as subjects (N=85). Found significantly higher degree of self-reflection for the advanced identity status subjects in the 32 subjects who fit purely into 1 of 4 identity statuses. (Author/ABL)

Investigated loneliness of rural Nebraskan adolescents (n=387)) in relation to aspects of their self-esteem. Gathered data using the Loneliness Inventory (Woodward, 1967), Bachman's (1970) Self Esteem Scale, and Coping Strategies Inventory (Woodward, 1987). Results indicated that rural adolescents had extremely high loneliness scores and that 10…

Investigated differences between what people believe is proper premarital sexual behavior, what they do and what they think others are doing at five stages of dating. Results indicated persons are more restrictive in beliefs, more permissive in behavior, and most permissive in perceptions of others. During the early stages of dating, males and…

Administered demographic questionnaire and measure of ego development to 16 unmarried adolescent mothers and 14 older married mothers. Found that adolescents had significantly higher incidence of divorce in families of origin, lower mean length of relationship with partner prior to pregnancy, and lower stages of ego development. (Author/NB)

Examined male transition-marking behaviors from adolescence into adulthood at first intercourse. Findings from 80 adolescent males revealed that alcohol use at first intercourse was unrelated to use of contraceptives at that time but was inversely related to whether first intercourse was planned. Planning was positively related to contraceptive…

Explores gender differences in the degree to which parent-child dyads and family system variables are associated with relationship quality in late adolescence and early adulthood (N=98). Results indicate that the relationship of family factors to the intimate relationships of young adults was similar for males and females. (MKA)

Data are presented from 335 young males who are participants in Wise Guys, a sexual responsibility program of the Family Life Council of Greater Greensboro. Comparisons were made with 145 similar males who did not participate in the program. Positive changes in knowledge and behavior were observed among the program participants but not the…

Surveys the literature on youth suicide (ages 15-24) for the period 1980-1985, emphasizing general determinants of suicide, predictors in the form of psychological tests, precipitating events, and signs that may signify impending attempts at self-destruction. Suggestions for prevention, and limitations of research on suicide are offered. (Author)

Using Erikson's theories on identity development as a framework, this paper examines the motives for and contexts of suicide among preadolescents, adolescents, and young adults, identifies specific school-age populations that are vulnerable to suicide, and discusses implications. (Contains 45 references.) (GCP)

Surveyed 439 women (ages 12-21) seeking abortions concerning support networks they used during their pregnancy. Fifty-one percent reported having confided in their parents. Results revealed that degree of financial and emotional dependence and quality and nature of family communication were closely related to decisions to confide in parents about…

Differences between males and females in regard to conflict behaviors toward same-sex and opposite-sex peers were examined in a sample of 501 undergraduate university students. Findings support the view that preferences regarding conflict behaviors are different for males and females, particularly as exhibited toward same-sex and opposite-sex…