Individual Articles

This article presents results of a three-year evaluation of Across Ages, an intergenerational approach to drug and alcohol prevention. The program consists of three major elements: 1) a mentoring program in which youths are matched with older adults who provide ongoing support and encouragement in weekly interactions; 2) community service activities designed to promote involvement with and better understanding of the frail elderly; and 3) a school-based life skills curriculum. Approximately 400 6th grade students in Springfield, Massachusetts, an ethnically diverse community with a large proportion of public school students living in low income families, took part in the evaluation over a three year period. Students classes were randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions: the mentor condition, in which students received the life skills curriculum, community service activities, and were assigned an elder mentor; the curriculum condition, in which students received only the life skills curriculum and community service activities; and the control condition, in which students received no intervention. Youths involved in the study completed questionnaires on three occasions: prior to the initiation of program activities, at the conclusion of the program, and again six months following the cessation of program activities. Results indicate that mentoring is associated with significantly lower levels of problem behavior and substance use and significantly higher levels of self- confidence, self-control, cooperation, and attachment to both the school and the family. Moreover, students receiving mentoring report significantly lower levels of alcohol use. In contrast, few positive effects of the life skills curriculum or community service activities are observed.

Adolescent & Family Health, 2000, 1(1): pp.11-20

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This study explored two factors that impact healthy psychosocial development, namely (1) household/family environment and (2) childhood sexual abuse (CSA), and attempted to specify the relationship between them. Using a sample of 323 women (64 CSA victims) attending reproductive health clinics in low-income, urban neighborhoods, time-varying retrospective data on 10 household risk factors were related to CSA and the specific conditions of its occurrence. Five household risks were associated with increased probability of CSA: excessive alcohol use within the household, criminal behavior by a male leading to arrest or incarceration, mothers absence from the household, fathers absence, and a high number of residential moves. Patterns of change in household risk during child and adolescent development were different across victim and non-victim households. Compared with non-victim households, victim households exhibited further increases in risk levels during and after the abuse. In conclusion, specific antecedent household conditions associated with specific males within the household increase the odds of CSA. Furthermore, specific risks in these households continue and/or increase after the abuse has ceased.

Adolescent & Family Health, 2000, 1(1): p.29-39

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While loneliness can occur at any age, past research has demonstrated that adolescence is a time of especially high risk. Family structure and the quality of the parent-child relationship are important in providing adolescents with a sense of belonging. Few studies have examined the association of family structure, parent-child relationship and loneliness among adolescents. This study analyzed the variables of parental connectedness, presence and activities and family type with covariates of age and gender as predictors of adolescent loneliness. Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) provided the study sample of 5,201 adolescents, with 1,750 adolescents reporting loneliness. Logistic regression procedure was used to analyze the main effects and interaction terms of the study variables. Lonely adolescents were older and female. Adolescents from one-parent and blended families were more likely to be lonely when compared to adolescents from intact families. Adolescents who felt less support from their parents, had fewer opportunities to be with parents throughout the day, and participated in fewer activities with parents were more likely to be lonely. When the interaction between parent-child relationship factors and family type is considered in the logistic regression model the risk for loneliness is reduced. The findings in this study emphasize the importance of the continuing need for parental attention, especially in situations of changed family structure. Along with gender and age, parent-child relationship factors and family structure are important predictors of adolescent loneliness.

Key Words: adolescent, adolescence, loneliness, parent-child relationship, family structure
Adolescent & Family Health, 2001, 2(1): p.20- 26

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This article presents a qualitative, narrative summary of the history, challenges, and accomplishments of one medium- sized, Midwestern communitys comprehensive initiative to enhance youth development opportunities, parent empowerment, and community supports for its children, youth, and families. Over a 5-year period, the initiative mobilized broad segments of the community in articulating a common vision for youth development and planned and implemented several projects congruent with that vision. Based on key informant interviews and a review of archival information, lessons learned are viewed through the lenses of the theory of change and hierarchy of results models for evaluating comprehensive community initiatives. While falling short of its goal of implementing its vision throughout the community, the initiative did enhance awareness of positive youth development, sponsored several effective short-term projects, and enhanced the collaborative capacity of the community. This study highlights several issues relevant for the planning, implementation and evaluation of future community initiatives.

Key words: collaboration; communities; evaluation; mobilization; youth development
Adolescent & Family Health, 2001,2(1): p. 27-36

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This study examines changing perceptions of the importance of parental influence as a factor in adolescent alcohol and tobacco use. Recent research is summarized to suggest that the influence of parents has been somewhat underestimated, while the influence of peers has been overstated. The review delineates various ways in which parents directly and indirectly influence their childrens decisions to use alcohol and tobacco, including overt modeling of alcohol and tobacco use, admonitions against experimentation, sanctions associated with experimentation, the development of specific substance-use beliefs, and peer selection. The review concludes with a series of research recommendations.

Key words: parental influence, alcohol, tobacco, peers
Adolescent & Family Health, 2000, 1(1): p.37-43

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The purpose of this study was to identify personal, family, and community social support factors associated with delinquent behavior and social adjustment in at-risk Asian American/Pacific Islander youth. Participants were 55 working-class youth ages 10-18 whose families were affected by work site closings. Youth outcomes were assessed in the areas of academic adjustment, prosocial skills, problem behaviors, and delinquent activities. When age, gender and family financial strain were controlled, active coping, authoritative parenting, social network support and a positive community climate were associated with positive adjustment. Passive- destructive coping and harsh parental discipline predicted negative youth outcomes.

Adolescent & Family Health, 2001(2): pp. 63-71

Key words: Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, coping, parent-child relations, social support, youth risk behavior

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This study examined the predictive value of parental monitoring and preadolescents personality traits in determining preadolescents participation in health-promoting and health-compromising behaviors. One-hundred and thirty (130) preadolescents and their mothers completed measures assessing preadolescents personality traits, perceptions of parental monitoring, and preadolescents participation in healthy and risky behaviors. Findings from this study suggest that preadolescents reports of parental monitoring predict their tendency to engage in healthy and risky behaviors. Mothers and preadolescents reports of youths personality traits explain unique variance in preadolescents participation in risky behaviors, but not in their health- promoting behaviors. An association between preadolescents self-reports of personality and their experience of parental monitoring was found. Familial influences may best explain preadolescents adoption of healthy behaviors. However, as children reach adolescence, individual differences appear to be important predictors of risky behaviors. Additional research is needed to better understand the interaction between these two predictors, and their differential and combined ability to predict youths health-related behaviors over time.

Adolescent & Family Health, 2001(2):pp. 83-90

Key words: risk behaviors, health behaviors, parental monitoring, personality, preadolescents

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Using a life course perspective, this paper traces cigarette use over ages 13 to 17 among a mixed-race sample of economically disadvantaged urban students. Compared to African American teens, cigarette use by white teens was much more prevalent. Still, experimentation with cigarettes (ages 13-14) was a powerful predictor of cigarette use at ages 15 and 17 for youth of both races, with those who were least engaged in school more likely to experiment at early ages. Employment during the school year predicted more use of cigarettes mainly by white males, with cigarette use by white females not related to employment. The number of African Americans in this sample who used cigarettes was so few that to analyze cigarette use in relation to employment is not possible. White male students were more disengaged from school, and more likely to be performing adult-type work than other students. This paper suggests they use cigarettes as a means to signal their acceleration of the adult transition.

Key words: smoking, schooling, ethnicity Adolescent & Family Health, 2001(3); p 108-122

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Substance abuse can have a devastating effect on families. Poor family cohesion and communication, poor parental attitudes, and partner abuse are some of the negative consequences experienced by families in which one or more members abuse substances. This article describes the impact of case management on substance abuse treatment clients perceptions of family relationships, parental attitudes, and perceptions of partner abuse up to 12 months after treatment.

Iowa Case Management Project (ICMP) for Rural Drug Abuse was a randomized clinical trial using a longitudinal design. Clients were recruited from the residential treatment program of a rural Midwestern substance abuse treatment agency and were randomly assigned to one of three experimental case management conditions, or to a control group. Results indicated that case management had an impact on family relationships and parental attitudes, but not on perceptions of partner abuse. The impact of case management was strongest 6 months after treatment initiation and was not evident 12 months after treatment. Analysis of subgroups revealed that the impact of case management on family relationships was better for persons over 30 than under 30, and the impact of case management on parental attitudes was better for persons who were employed rather than unemployed. The location of the case manager or use of a telecommunication system did not alter the effectiveness of case management. Targeted interventions may be needed to affect outcomes in different groups.

Key words: case management, substance abuse, family cohesion, social support Adolescent & Family Health, 2001, 2(3): p.132-140

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This paper demonstrates the continuity in adjustment from adolescence to adulthood with respect to family functioning. In 1962, 73 young adolescent males were selected as being mentally healthy and were studied extensively for eight years. Two have died of cancer in their 30's. Of the remaining 71, 67 or 94% of these subjects were reinterviewed in person 34 years later. Interviews in both time frames focused on family relationships, home environment, dating, sexuality, religion, parental discipline and general activities. Interview data was blindly coded and correlated across the 34-year time span. Adolescents from traditional background had smooth, relatively conflict-free adjustment during their teenage years. As adults they lived in traditional families and continued their good adjustment. Teenagers whose adjustment was tumultuous or periodically troubled were less likely, as adults, to be living in traditional families and to show good adjustment as adults.

Keywords: family constellation, adolescent experience, longitudinal research.
Adolescent & Family Health, 2003 3(1); p. 3 - 8

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The overall objective of the study was to determine the relationships between parent and family factors and tobacco use among a sample of minors cited for tobacco possession and who attended a Teen Tobacco Court (TTC). Two waves of data were obtained from minors cited for tobacco possession and who appeared in a special TTC in South Florida. The time one (T-1) sample included 402 cited offenders and their parents (N = 354) who completed questionnaires at the time of their court appearance; the time two (T-2) sample consisted of 210 of the minors who were included in the T-1 survey. Time 2 respondents were interviewed by telephone approximately two months following their court appearance. Supplementary analyses comparing the T-1 and T-2 samples did not reveal significant differences with regard to their demographics or to their T-1 tobacco use behaviors. Approximately, 60% of the teens surveyed at T-2 reported reduced tobacco use or quitting as a result of the TTC intervention. Chi square analyses indicated that teens reporting no change in their tobacco use behaviors, as a result of being ticketed or as a result of the TTC experience, reported significantly lower levels of family pride; perceived parental concern about their tobacco use; were more likely to be accompanied to court by a parent who reported knowing of their childs tobacco use; and, by a parent who was less optimistic about the effectiveness of the TTC experience. In summary, parent and family factors were found to be related to the tobacco use behaviors among a sample of teen tobacco offenders after being cited for tobacco use and following the TTC experience. Although not offered as definitive, the results suggest that the citation for tobacco use; appearance in a TTC court, parental attitudes and beliefs, as well as family factors, can be useful in teen tobacco prevention programs.

Keywords: tobacco, smoking, teens, parents, tobacco court, family pride, tobacco laws
Adolescent & Family Health, 2003, 3(1):p. 20 - 27

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In the United States, the birth and pregnancy rates for single 15- to 19- year-old females declined by 0.4 births and 9 pregnancies per 1000 females from 1991 to 1995. The current study utilizes data from the National Vital Statistics Records, National Survey of Family Growth (NFSG-95), and the Alan Guttmacher Institute to determine the contribution of abstinence to the decline. In addition, the birthrate and population changes among the married teen population were evaluated for their contribution to the overall decline in teen birth and pregnancy rates. The percentage of single teens that were abstinent increased from 53 to 56% from 1991 to 1995 reducing the total teen birthrate by 2.8 births and the pregnancy rate by 6.1 pregnancies per 1000 females. For sexually active single teens, the birth rate increased by 5.5 births/1000, increasing the single teen birth rate by 2.6 births/1000 females while the pregnancy rate decreased by 6.8 pregnancies/1000, reducing the single teen pregnancy rate by 3.2 pregnancies/1000 females. The number of married teens declined from 4.7 to 3.9%, reducing the overall birth and pregnancy rates by 3.0 births and 3.5 pregnancies per 1000 females. Among single 15-19 year-old females, the decline in the proportion engaging in sexual activity accounts for the entire decrease in birthrate and 67% of the decline in pregnancy rate. The factors making the greatest contribution to the decline in overall 15-19 year-old birth and pregnancy rates were an increase in abstinence and a decrease in the percentage of married teens.

Keywords: teenage pregnancy, teenage birthrates, adolescent sexuality, teen pregnancy rates, contraception, abstinence, adolescent health
Adolescent & Family Health, 2003, 3 (1): p. 39- 47

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Adolescent tobacco smoking is a health risk behavior that can be a gateway into involvement with numerous other rebellious behaviors. Influences from peers, family members, and the media are risk factors for adolescent smoking. Because of differences in cultural norms and values, the influence of each of these factors might vary across ethnic groups. However, few studies have examined ethnic differences in the influences of peers, family members, and the media on adolescent smoking. This study used data from the 1999 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) to examine ethnic differences in the associations between friends smoking, family members smoking, receptivity to pro-tobacco media, and tobacco use in a national sample of 14691 U.S. students in grades 6-12. Friends smoking, family smoking, and pro-tobacco media receptivity were associated with higher levels of tobacco use across ethnic groups. The influence of pro-tobacco media receptivity was especially strong among Pacific Islanders and Multi-ethnic adolescents. Friends influences were less strong among Hispanics than among Whites, and were stronger among Native Americans than among Whites. Media literacy education programs and anti- tobacco counter-advertising campaigns are needed to counteract pro-tobacco media influences among Pacific Islander and Multi-ethnic adolescents. Family / community-based smoking prevention programs are needed for Hispanic adolescents. Native American adolescents might benefit from prevention programs that counteract peer influences to smoke. Further research is needed to develop maximally effective smoking prevention programs that are appropriate for the diverse cultural values of U.S. adolescents.

Keywords: smoking, tobacco, adolescent, peer influences, family, media, prevention.
Adolescent & Family Health, 2003, 3(2): p. 65- 70

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This article presents process and outcome data from an evaluation of the safety, efficacy, and feasibility of implementing the Signs Of Suicide prevention program using data collected from 92 schools during the 2000-2001 school year. Information about the program was obtained from individual site coordinators, typically guidance counselors, psychologists, social workers and nurses, who completed structured questionnaires immediately following implementation of the program and again 30 days after implementation. In general, the program and its materials were very well received. The vast majority of site coordinators reported that the program was effective in increasing help-seeking, in improving communication among students, parents, and teachers, and bringing students in need of help to the schools attention. Of particular importance is the nearly 60 percent increase in help-seeking among students who participated in the program: site coordinators reported that the number of students seeking counseling for depression or suicidal ideation increased from an average of 6.79 per month over the past year to 10.63 in the 30 days following the programs implementation. Contrary to the belief that some suicide intervention programs may increase the risk of suicide among adolescents, no high schools reported any adverse reactions among students exposed to the SOS program.

Keywords: suicide, depression, prevention, adolescents, evaluation, screening
Adolescent & Family Health, 2003, 3(2):p 81- 88

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This study aimed to disentangle the separate contributions of adoles- cent dating, romantic sex, and casual sex to depressive symptoms, delin- quent behaviors, and experiences of violent victimization among adoles- cents. To explore these associations we began with a nationally repre- sentative sample of adolescent virgins who had never dated (N = 2344). We examined the different trajectories these youth took the following year. By distinguishing between dating, romantic sex, and casual sex, we found that the transition to dating or romantic sexual intercourse was not associated with significant increases in depressive symptoms, delin- quent behaviors, or experiences of violent victimization; however, casual sex was associated with significantly greater psychological distress and problem behaviors before and after transition. We also discovered that casual sex is quite pervasive among adolescents. Almost 15% of twelve to sixteen year olds and more than 40% of seventeen to twenty-one year olds in our nationally representative sample who were virgins at Wave 1 had engaged in casual sex during the following year. The implications of these findings for adolescents health are discussed.

Keywords: adolescents, depressive symptoms, dating, sexual behavior, delinquent behaviors, violent victimization
Adolescent & Family Health, 2003, 3(3):p103- 112

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Despite a substantial amount of research documenting the association between parental divorce and premarital pregnancy, the factors account- ing for this association remain largely unspecified. In this article we attempt to explain the effects of parental divorce on premarital pregnan- cy by examining the mediating role of parental supervision and family attachment, attachment to school, involvement in dating relationships, and early sexual intercourse. The analysis is based on four waves of longitudinal data from an initial sample of 1,208 white high school stu- dents from working- to middle-class backgrounds residing in the greater Boston area. Logistic regression analyses reveal that parental divorce by age 16 is strongly associated with an elevated risk of premarital preg- nancy, but this association is reduced to nonsignificance when the full complement of mediator variables is included in the model. Approximately 50% of the reduction in the effects of parental divorce on premarital pregnancy can be uniquely attributed to early intercourse, while school attachment accounts for about 20% of this effect. Further analyses reveal that our findings concerning the role of early intercourse are not an artifact attributable to the proximity of age at intercourse and age at pregnancy, as the early initiation of sexual intercourse typically occurs more than four years prior to an eventual pregnancy. These find- ings highlight the importance of targeting the timing of sexual intimacy in preventing teen pregnancy among youths in both divorced and intact families.

Keywords: parental divorce, premarital pregnancy, early intercourse, dating relationships, school attachment, adolescence.
Adolescent & Family Health, 2004, 3(3):p 122- 129

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Using a risk and protective factor framework, this study examines personal, family and community level factors associated with alcohol use and abuse in a sample of 341 6th 12th grade Native American students residing on a reservation. Bivariate and multivariate analyses revealed that early initiation of alcohol use was related to use of alcohol but was not related to excessive alcohol use. Adolescents with higher stress scores were less likely to use or abuse alcohol than their peers with lower stress scores. High levels of parental monitoring and parental support were pro- tective factors against alcohol use and abuse. Although 92% of the students believed their parents disapproved of teen alcohol use, parental values were not related to use or abuse of alcohol. The presence of a non-parental adult who was willing to monitor youth behaviors was a significant protective factor against alcohol use and abuse. Among teens who used alcohol, those who believed an adult in their community would monitor their behavior were three times less likely to report drunkeness in the past month than those who believed community members would not monitor them. In contrast, the absence of nonparental monitoring within the community significantly increased the likelihood that an adolescent would use or abuse alcohol.

Keywords: adolescent, alcohol use, Native American, protective factors, risk factors
Adolescent & Family Health, 2004, 3(3):p 140- 147

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This study sought to show that abstinence programs could work to inhibit the early onset of sex by analyzing the data from the Best Friends abstinence program of Washington, DC. The Best Friends (BF) program is one of the oldest such programs in the United States, but has not been studied using quantitative techniques. The program stresses the develop- ment of self-control and the avoidance of drinking and drug use as well as sex among middle school girls. The data analyzed in this study con- sists of responses to questionnaires filled out by program attendees at the beginning and at the end of the year, which are compared to the respons- es of a sample of girls to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) of Washington, DC. Despite the fact that BF schools have reading scores similar to and math scores lower than the District of Columbia as a whole and despite the fact they are located in wards that have higher rates of out-of-wedlock birth, girls who have attended the Best Friends program are substantially less likely to smoke, drink, take illegal drugs, and have sex than a comparable sample of YRBS respondents. These findings were analyzed using multiple logistic regression techniques controlling for grade, age, race, and year of survey. An analysis of those who started the BF program but failed to complete a posttest survey shows that dropouts do not differ from those remaining in the program with respect to their risk behaviors.

Keywords: abstinence, risk behavior, Best Friends program
Adolescent & Family Health, 2004, 3(4); p. 185-192

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Adolescent involvement in drug use is strongly influenced by parental behavior. Key factors in preventing adolescent drug use include positive parental role modeling, open parent-child communication, and establishing a supportive family environment. The present study exam- ined the effects that parental drug use and parent-child time spent together have on adolescent involvement in alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. A two- page survey instrument was developed based on a com- prehensive review of the prevention literature and a series of pre-study focus groups (N = 7) occurring in five Ohio regions. A total of 388 par- ents who had adolescent children living in their household were sur- veyed during the spring of 2000. Results indicated a statistically signifi- cant relationship between parental drug use and adolescent drug use. Parents who currently used drugs were significantly more likely than parents who currently did not use drugs to have adolescents who used drugs. In addition, the more time that a parent spent with their child each day, the less likely the child was to have ever used drugs. Based on these findings, adolescent drug prevention programs are recommend- ed to include a parental component that specifically educates parents on the effects that parent-child time spent together and parental drug use have on adolescent drug use.

Keywords: parental influence, adolescent, alcohol, tobacco, drugs

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Research on adults has yielded upwards of 13 facets of subjective well-being that reflect the dimensions of emotional, psychological, and social well-being. There is little or no research on whether the same dimensions characterize the well-being of youth, and the research that does exist on subjective well-being in young people focuses exclusively on hedonic (i.e., happiness or life satisfaction) well- being. This study used data from the second wave of the Child Development Supplement (CDS-II) of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), in which a comprehensive set of subjective well-being items were administered to youth ages 12 to 18. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the hypothesis that the three factor model of emotional, psychological, and social well-being provided the best fit to these data. Descriptive analyses revealed that the CDS-II youth experienced more emotional than psychological well-being, and more psychological than social well- being. Evidence also supported the construct validity of the well-being measures. The subjective well-being measures correlated relatively strongly with scales of global self concept, self- determination, and school integration, modestly with measures of depression, closeness to family and friends, and self-rated health, and weakly with measures of math and reading skill.

Keywords: happiness, subjective well-being, psychological well-being, and mental health
Adolescent & Family Health, 2005, 4: p. 3-11

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The author (Snyder, 1989, 1994) has defined hope as goal-directed thinking in which the person has the perceived capacity to find routes to goals (pathways thinking), and the motivation to use those routes (agency thinking). The developmental underpinning of this hopeful thought in the infant to toddler stage is described. Using this hope theory, the author and his colleagues (Snyder et al., 1997) have developed and validated a six-item self-report instrument called the Childrens Hope Scale (CHS) for children ages seven through 15. An overview of the available validation research is given. In this regard, the CHS consistently factors into the posited pathways and agency components, and yet it manifests acceptably high internal consistently. Likewise, the CHS exhibits temporal stability in terms of similar scores emerging after a three-week retesting interval. Furthermore, the CHS produces considerable variation in scores across different children (i.e., response variability). Also, the discriminant validity of the CHS is established by its small correlations with measures of hopelessness and socially desirable responding. The concurrent validity of the CHS is shown by its moderate relationships with scores on measures of depression and loneliness (inverse correlations with hope) and perceived competency and control (positive correlations with hope). The CHS also manifests predictive validity in that it reliably predicts childrens performances on a cognitive achievement test taken several months later. To date,14 samples of CHS respondents have been gathered, involving a total of 2,263 children in 15 separate states in the U.S. Given this set of validation activities, the CHS is deemed to be ready for inclusion as part of a national indicator system.

Keywords: hope, childrens motivation, measurement, positive psychology, strengths, optimism, resilience
Adolescent & Family Health, 2005, 4: p. 3-11

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Interest in adolescent religious and spiritual development has risen sharply in recent years. Several major and recent reviews of positive youth development have moved this domain to center stage, positioning the spiritual religious domain as a developmental resource that lessens risk behavior and/or enhances positive outcomes (Bridges & Moore, 2002; Donahue & Benson, 1995; National Research Council, 2002; Scales & Leffert, 1999). At the same time, the domain also has political currency in its clear connection to White House interest in faith-based initiatives. Though this dimension of adolescent development holds promise for inclusion in a pantheon of positive indicators, the selection and/or development of appropriate measures requires responses to several critical issues. One, of course, has to do with the definitional distinctions between the concepts of religion and spirituality. The research tradition as incomplete as it is strongly emphasizes the former. And in that regard, the dominant measures used in quantitative studies are the degree of importance respondents attach to religion and the frequency of participation in religious communities (i.e., worship attendance at a mosque, synagogue, parish, church, or other type of congregation). These two measures are, one could argue, fairly superficial approaches to a domain that has a potentially rich array of belief, value, behavior, and communal dimensions. Any attempt to propose indicators worthy of serious attention must both begin with a thorough examination of the utility of these cursory measures and also look for potential measures that get deeper inside the spiritual/religious domain. In addition, there is the issue of inclusivity. Much of the extant research has utilized samples of Christians in fairly conventional (i.e., institutional) settings. Accordingly, many of the efforts to measure deeper themes and dimensions utilize items and scales tailored to these samples. If there is any trend that describes the American spiritual/religious landscape, it is the growth and spread of new religious beliefs, practices, forms, and movements (Eck, 2001). Hence, a critical measurement issue has to do with how to capture this rich diversity of spiritual and religious energy. This paper has five purposes:
To review what is known about adolescent engagement in the religious/ spiritual domain;
To synthesize literature on the predictive utility of religious/spiritual engagement for developmental success;
To report what is known about the generalizability of these relationships, with a particular eye to gender and race/ethnicity;
To review and critique efforts to measure themes and dimensions of religious/spiritual engagement; and
To recommend strategies for creating a psychometrically sound index of spiritual/religious engagement.

Keywords: adolescence, developmental assets, measurement, religious development, risk behaviors, spiritual development, thriving, worship attendance
Adolescent & Family Health, 2005, 4: p. 41-51

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Recent research suggests that social experiences influence the onset of puberty among Euro- American girls. This study investigated seventy-five (75) Mexican American and Euro-American girls (mean age = 9.74 years) to empirically examine relations between family structure and pubertal onset among a multi- ethnic sample in the beginning stages of puberty. Results suggest that even after controlling for girls ethnicity, age, body mass index, and family income, pubertal development occurs earlier for girls residing in homes with a non-biological male (i.e., step-fathers or mothers boyfriends) compared to girls residing in homes with only their biological mother or both biological parents. Implications of these findings are discussed in terms of possible negative consequences of early pubertal development for both Mexican American and Euro-American girls.

Keywords: puberty, preadolescent girls, ethnicity, Mexican Adolescent & Family Health, 2009, 4(2), p 69-74

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Sexual activity is frequent among adolescents, with consequences such as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and unintended pregnancy. We evaluated the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Sex Education Program (UTHSCSA SEP), our abstinence-focused intervention on knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intentions of 1,118 predominantly Mexican- American middle school adolescents in grades 6-8. We hypothesized higher levels of knowledge of the potential consequences of sex, more positive attitudes towards delaying sexual activity, and increased commitment to abstinence. Students received 10 weekly, 45-minute sessions about the potential negative consequences of sex, methods of preventing STDs and pregnancy, and communication skills to negotiate lowest-risk relationships. We simultaneously conducted adult mentoring seminars for teachers presenting the curriculum and parents of participants, district-wide symposia, and a community-wide media campaign including establishment of a Program website. Effectiveness was evaluated from Pre- Test to Post-Test using Chi-Square, T-test, and multivariate logistic regression. Knowledge increased significantly (54% to 67%, p < .01). Attitudes reflected increased beliefs that sex is not a safe activity for teens, abstinence is the most effective means of preventing consequences, and that a person should practice abstinence until in a long-term relationship. At Pre- Test, 54% of participants were committed to abstinence and 67% at Post-Test (p < .01). This change was explained by increased knowledge and more positive attitudes. The intervention significantly increased knowledge about sexual activity and created more positive attitudes and increased commitment to abstinence. Shifts in knowledge and attitudes were significantly associated with intentions to abstain from sex until in a long-term relationship.

Keywords: adolescent health, adolescent sexuality, abstinence, minority youth, coital delay, sex education, contra- ception, sexually transmitted disease, intervention, evaluation. Adolescent & Family Health, 2009, 4(2), p 84- 94

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Differences in risk and protective factors for adolescent parenting status among males were examined using data from the NLSY79. This study compared males who became adolescent fathers to males who did not in regards to risk factors related to adolescent childbearing. The sample included 5,760 males within four ethnic groups: Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans and indicates that being married, living in poverty, living with a single father, teen marijuana and cigarette use and illegal activity were risk factors for adolescent fatherhood while fathers education and rural residence were protective factors depending on fathers race. Predictors varied for each ethnic group. Implications are discussed.

Keywords: adolescent fathers, risk behaviors, adolescent childbearing, ethnic groups, protective factors, risk factors Adolescent & Family Health, 2009, 4(3), pp. 112-122

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This discussion presents a new community asset assessment approach. It is a framework for evaluating a communitys readiness to engage in comprehensive risk avoidance programming to work toward the elimination of youth risk behavior in the areas of tobacco, drugs, alcohol, sexual activity, and violence. The strength of this approach is that it meets communities where they are by first recognizing assets among existing youth attitude data and then identifying assets among programs currently offered in a community. The resulting two-level composite asset picture becomes a communitys starting point in developing more youth risk avoidance assets in the future.

Key Words: community asset assessment, community resource assessment, comprehensive risk avoidance, comprehensive youth prevention initiatives, positive youth development - Adolescent & Family Health, 2009, 4(3), pp. 138-143

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This study attempts to explain the impact of family structure on early age at first intercourse using data from a prospective study of predominantly white, middle class, young adults in the Boston metropolitan area (n = 716). Youths living with single and remarried parents following divorce or death are at a significantly increased risk of early intercourse compared to those in intact two parent families. The association between parental divorce or death and early intercourse is primarily mediated by decreased school involvement and the presence of dating relationships during adolescence. Further analysis reveals that both the structure and functioning of the family are important risk factors for early intercourse, mainly because these family variables are predictive of involvement in other activities such as early dating that are associated with precocious sexuality.

Key words: adolescence, dating relationships, divorce, early intercourse, family structure. Adolescent & Family Health, 2010, 4(4), pp. 155-170

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The purpose of this study was to focus on county variation in the teen birth rate and its relationship to macro-level variables. Growth curve analysis was employed to test for the presence of significant variation in the birth rate at one time point and the rate of change in the birth rate. County-level predictors were assessed for their effect on the teen birth rate at one time point. It was found that the teen birth rate significantly varied between the counties. Population density and poverty were significantly associated with the county birth rates. These results have practical significance for adolescent health services. Funding for teen pregnancy prevention and teen parenting programs may need to be targeted to those communities with rural compositions and high poverty rates.

Key words: adolescent, birth rate, childbearing, growth curve analysis, pregnancy Adolescent & Family Health, 2010, 4(4), pp. 182-190

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