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Abstract: Social network approach has conceptually and empirically improved research on HIV/ AIDS by counterbalancing the individualized concepts of sexual decision-making. In the current study, associations between the structural characteristics [...]

Abstract: Since the second half of the 2000s, political tension surrounding memory questions and their weight in relations between post-Communist states has increased. Memory stakes also occupy a key place [...]

1,163 middle school students (586 girls, 577 boys; Grades 6-8) were selected through a stratified random sampling method to examine their attitudes toward physical education (PE) by grade, student's sex, sports participation characteristics, and teacher's sex. They were administered the Attitude Toward Physical Education Scale for Children. Factorial analysis of variance indicated that Grade 8 students' mean attitude scores were less positive than those of Grade 6 students, but the attitudes of boys and of sports participants were more positive than of girls and nonsports participants. Findings were similar regardless of the teacher's sex. DOI 10.2466/06.07.11.13.PMS.111.5.324-332

To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.2009.00501.x Byline: Nora Wiium (1), Leif E. Aaro (*), Jorn Hetland (*) Abstract: The theory of psychological reactance predicts that, to the extent that smoking-control measures are perceived as threatening the individual's freedom to choose among behavioral alternatives, they may be met with resistance. Data were collected from a national representative sample of 2,400 young people (ages 16-20) by telephone interviews. Dispositional reactance was shown to be associated with smoking. Principal components analyses revealed that a distinction should be made between attitudes toward weak and attitudes toward strong smoking-control measures. Attitudes toward strong measures were particularly negative among regular smokers. Among regular smokers, dispositional reactance was found to be significantly associated with attitudes toward strong tobacco-control measures. Processes of psychological reactance deserve attention when designing smoking control programs. Author Affiliation: (*)Research Centre for Health PromotionThe Faculty of Psychology University of BergenNorway Article note: (1) Nora Wiium, Research Centre for Health Promotion, University of Bergen, Christiesgt. 13, 5015 Bergen, Norway. E-mail: Nora.Wiium@iuh.uib.no

Byline: Michael Windle (1), Sylvie Mrug (2) Keywords: Dating violence; Disruptive behaviors; Gender differences; Peer deviance; Parenting Abstract: This study examined gender differences in cross-gender violence perpetration and victimization (ranging from mild, e.g., push, to severe, e.g., assault with a knife or gun) and attitudes toward dating conflict, among an urban sample of 601 early adolescents (78% African-American). Comparisons across gender groups for cross-gender (e.g., female-to-male) violence perpetration and victimization indicated higher levels of perpetration for girls and higher levels of victimization for boys. Girls also reported higher levels of verbal and physical violence toward partners with regard to attitudes toward dating conflict. A path model was specified and indicated that cross-gender violence perpetration, harsh parenting, peer deviance, low family income, and neighborhood hazards accounted for significant variation in attitudes toward dating conflict. Findings were discussed regarding the need to identify developmental precursors of dating violence in early adolescence and to focus prevention efforts on components (e.g., social skills, coping strategies) necessary to prevent the onset and escalation of adolescent dating violence. Author Affiliation: (1) Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road NE, Room 520, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA (2) Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 415 Campbell Hall, Birmingham, AL, USA Article History: Registration Date: 02/08/2008 Received Date: 19/06/2008 Accepted Date: 01/08/2008 Online Date: 19/08/2008

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2008.07.022 Byline: Silvia S. Martins, Pierre K. Alexandre Keywords: Ecstasy (MDMA) use; Marijuana use; Adolescence; Academic achievement Abstract: The association of ecstasy (3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA) use with low academic achievement was examined in two nationally representative surveys of adolescents. We tested whether associations with low academic achievement were of similar magnitude or of stronger magnitude for ecstasy versus marijuana use (without ecstasy use), alcohol/tobacco use (without other drug use) and non-drug use in adolescence. Data from the adolescents in the 2002-2005 National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH, n =65,294) and from the 2001-2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS, n =27,592) were analyzed via weighted logistic regression models. Ecstasy, marijuana, and alcohol/tobacco use were associated with moderate and low academic achievement among adolescents in both surveys. Moreover, ecstasy was more strongly associated with low academic achievement and reporting that school gave no grades than alcohol/tobacco in both samples and than marijuana (NSDUH sample only). Prevention programs should inform adolescents that ecstasy use might impair their academic achievement. Author Affiliation: Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States

The link between adolescents' exposure to sexual media content and their sexual socialization has hardly been approached from an identity development framework. Moreover, existing research has largely ignored the role of adolescents' exposure to sexually explicit Internet material in that association. This study introduces two characteristics of adolescents' sexual self--sexual uncertainty and attitudes toward sexual exploration--and investigates these characteristics as potential correlates of adolescents' exposure to sexually explicit Internet material. Drawing from a sample of 2,343 Dutch adolescents aged 13 to 20, the authors find that more frequent exposure to sexually explicit Internet material is associated with greater sexual uncertainty and more positive attitudes toward uncommitted sexual exploration (i.e., sexual relations with casual partners/friends or with sexual partners in one-night stands). The findings call for more attention to adolescents' exposure to sexually explicit material on the Internet and identity-related issues. Keywords: pornography; youth; sexual socialization; teenagers

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2006.01.012 Byline: Rochelle F. Hanson (a), Shannon Self-Brown (a), Adrienne Fricker-Elhai (b), Dean G. Kilpatrick (a), Benjamin E. Saunders (a), Heidi Resnick (a) Keywords: Parental substance abuse; Adolescents; Violence exposure; Mental health Abstract: To study the relations among parental substance use, violence exposure and psychopathology in a nationally representative sample of adolescents. Author Affiliation: (a) National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, USA (b) University of South Dakota School of Medicine, USA Article Note: (footnote) [star] This research was supported by grant 93-IJ-CX-0023 from the National Institute of Justice; Dean G. Kilpatrick and Benjamin E. Saunders, principal investigators. Points of view or opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

This longitudinal study examines the relationships between Chinese cultural beliefs about adversity and psychological well-being and problem behavior in 199 Chinese adolescents with economic disadvantage. Results showed that endorsement of Chinese cultural beliefs about adversity was concurrently related to measures of adolescent psychological well-being (existential well-being, mastery, life satisfaction, self-esteem and general psychiatric morbidity) and problem behavior (substance abuse and delinquency) at Time 1 and Time 2. Partial correlation and multiple regression analyses showed that while Chinese beliefs about adversity at Time 1 predicted changes in developmental outcomes at Time 2 (except self-esteem), developmental outcome variables at Time 1 did not predict changes in endorsement of Chinese cultural beliefs about adversity at Time 2. The present findings suggest that identification with Chinese cultural beliefs about adversity is an important factor that influences the psychosocial adjustment of Chinese adolescents experiencing economic disadvantage. KEY WORDS: adversity, Chinese adolescents, cultural beliefs, economic disadvantaged, longitudinal study, psychological well-being

Substance abuse remains a major public health concern, and pediatricians are uniquely positioned to assist their patients and families with its prevention, detection, and treatment. The American Academy of Pediatrics has highlighted the importance of such issues in a variety of ways, including its guidelines for preventive services. The harmful consequences of tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use are a concern of medical professionals who care for infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. Thus, pediatricians should include discussion of substance abuse as a part of routine health care, starting with the prenatal visit, and as part of ongoing anticipatory guidance. Knowledge of the nature and extent of the consequences of tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use as well as the physical, psychological, and social consequences is essential for pediatricians. Pediatricians should incorporate substance-abuse prevention into daily practice, acquire the skills necessary to identify young people at risk of substance abuse, and provide or facilitate assessment, intervention, and treatment as necessary. Pediatrics 2005;115:816-821; tobacco alcohol, drugs, substance abuse. ABBREVIATION. AAP, American Academy of Pediatrics., PERVASIVENESS OF DRUG USE In a recent public opinion poll of Americans' views of the top 2 or 3 problems facing adolescents today, 67% identified drugs or drug abuse, 13% [...]

In a diverse society, prejudice and stereotyping can lead to a myriad of individual and social problems. Research on youth development suggests that inter-group relations can be improved through programs that focus on planned interaction between individuals from diverse backgrounds, and attend to cognitive and emotional aspects of prejudice, along with efforts to build supportive relationships among participants. Anytown U.S.A., a human relations program for high school-aged youth, is designed to achieve these goals. The weeklong program utilizes experiential, cognitive, and behavioral components to increase knowledge of diversity, increase empathy for others, increase self-esteem, and develop a commitment to social change. This paper presents an evaluation of a regional Anytown program and discusses the implications of these findings for future youth develop programming. KEYWORDS. Youth development, inter-group relations, diversity, adolescents, prejudice

Public opinion of youth is overwhelmingly negative due to an imbalance of press coverage of youth problems. Several sociological studies with positive conclusions about American adolescents are analyzed.