This study, employing meta-analysis, investigates 20 years (1973-1993) of empirical data involving demographic and parental correlates of youthful sexual offenders. Three offender subtypes, pedophilic, sexual assault, and mixed offense youth, are identified. Pedophilic youth are described as being principally Caucasian, living in foster care, and having an education of < sixth grade. They tend to be from lower to mid socioeconomic status (SES) maladaptive families. Mothers of these youth have been physically abused as children, and fathers abuse drugs. Sexual assault youth come from low-to mid-SES, single parent, dysfunctional families with fathers abusing alcohol. These youth are most often Caucasian. Mixed offense offenders are predominately from lower SES families, are Caucasian, Protestant, and have <? high school education. Families are dysfunctional with paternal substance abuse. Fathers report being neglected as children, whereas mothers indicate physical abuse.
Two contemporary theoretical explanations of adolescent self-esteem, symbolic interaction and social learning, were investigated and compared. Special attention focused on the relative effect of selected variables, representing each explanation, on four dimensions of self-esteem. A stratified random sample of 184 families with adolescents provided self-report data. Multiple regression and bivariate analysis resulted in evidence for the general conclusions that: (1) adolescent self-esteem was more a function of the reflected appraisal of the parents than it was of adolescents modeling their parents' self-esteem; and (2) female adolescents were more likely to be influenced by their parents than were male adolescents. In addition, the study suggests that when researchers investigate adolescent self-esteem, it is essential that they take into account its various dimensions, as well as the sex of the parent and the-adolescent.
The study empirically combines two commonly used measures of adolescent self-esteem, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and a modified version of the Osgood Semantic Differential, with special attention focusing on the degree of association between the two measures. A crucial aspect of the study focused upon ascertaining the degree of association between four suggested independent dimensions of self-esteem derived from the two instruments. In addition, the study utilized sex and generation variables in assessing structural equivalence. A stratified random sample of 184 families with adolescents was taken. Self-report data were gathered from this sample. Factor analysis with varimax rotation and the Cronbach Reliability Coefficient were the statistical procedures employed. The findings of the study suggest two important considerations for self-esteem research and application: first, the results indicate that four valid and reliable dimensions of self-esteem can be derived from the two instruments; and second, the dimensions derived demonstrate structural equivalence.
A social deficit hypothesis has been advanced to predict loneliness during adolescence. As a test of this hypothesis, two studies were completed. The first investigation involved the factor analysis of the UCLA Loneliness Scale to assess for unidimensionality versus multidimensionality. Three forms of loneliness were derived-psychological, psychosocial and social loneliness. Internal consistency and predictive validity were estimated for the three subscales. In the second investigation a social skills training study was completed with females who reported high levels of loneliness and inadequate or marginal social skills. A standard pretest posttest experimental and control group design was utilized. Acquisition of social skills was observed to be associated with decreased psychosocial and social loneliness but not psychological loneliness. However, no effects were observed on self-perceived social inhibition.
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