Andrew M. Boxer

A self-report measure of pubertal status: Reliability, validity, and initial norms.

Puberty is a central process in the complex set of changes that constitutes the transition from childhood to adolescence. Research on the role of pubertal change in this transition has been impeded by the difficulty of assessing puberty in ways acceptable to young adolescents and others involved. Addressing this problem, this paper describes and presents norms for a selfreport measure of pubertal status. The measure was used twice annually over a period of three years in a longitudinal study of 335 young adolescent boys and girls. Data on a longitudinal subsample of 253 subjects are reported. The scale shows good reliability, as indicated by coefficient alpha. In addition, several sources of data suggest that these reports are valid. The availability of such a measure is important for studies, such as those based in schools, in which more direct measures of puberty may not be possible.

The Psychological Significance of Pubertal Change

Pubertal changes involve a rather dramatic set of events with regard to their rate and magnitude (Petersen and Taylor, 1980), particularly when compared to other biological events through the life cycle. Studies across the life course sensitize us to the fact that when life changes are too rapid or extreme, multiple and simultaneous, or unusually timed, individuals are subjected to varied and extreme challenges of coping with their situations. Such evidence comes to us from studies of adolescence (Coleman, 1980; Simmons, Blyth, Van Cleave, and Bush, 1979), the transition to adulthood (Coleman, et al., 1974; Neugarten and Hagestad, 1976; Hogan, 1978), middle age (Brim, 1976a; Cohler and Boxer, 1983), and old age (Lieberman, 1975; Seltzer, 1976). Individuals need some degree of control and social support to effectively negotiate life changes, and such capacities vary according to the events themselves, their transformative qualities (Brim and Ryff, 1980; Hultsch and Plemons, 1979), and individual coping styles and life cycle position. Thus, young adolescents’ confrontations with the challenges of pubertal change provide a natural testing ground for understanding (1) the nature of a set of biologically paced life events, (2) the ways in which these are negotiated, and (3) their psychosocial impact upon development.

The phenomena and characteristics of self-hypnosis

Abstract Self-hypnosis and hetero-hypnosis were compared, and selfhypnosis was studied longitudinally. Results indicated that absorption and the fading of the general reality orientation are characteristics of both hetero-hypnosis and self-hypnosis. The differentiating characteristics lie in the areas of attention and ego receptivity. Expansive, freefloating attention and ego receptivity to stimuli coming from within are state-specific for self-hypnosis, while concentrative attention and receptivity to stimuli coming from one outside source—the hypnotist on whom the subject concentrates his attention-are state-specific for laboratory defined hetero-hypnosis. Attempts to produce age regression and positive or negative hallucinations are markedly more successful in hetero-hypnosis. Imagery is much richer in self-hypnosis than in hetero-hypnosis. Self-hypnosis requires adaptation to the state: in the beginning of self-hypnosis there is a good deal of anxiety and self-doubt. As the subject feels more comforta...

Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Aging into the Twenty-First Century: An Overview and Introduction

This paper provides an introduction and overview for the papers in the special issue of this Journal devoted to the latter half of life among gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals. Key issues are highlighted in terms of their impact on gay, lesbian, and bisexual cultural communities: the impact of the large aging population of baby boomers; the significance of age as a social organizer; and the areas of research included in this special issue (intimacy and relationships, HIV and AIDS among elders, and the identities and needs of those growing into middle and later life).

Puberty: Physical Change and Its Significance in Early Adolescence.

Puberty is commonly considered to be a biologically-paced life event which marks the beginning of adolescence. Studies in recent decades have brought significant advances to our understanding of pubertal growth. We have now come to regard puberty not as a single event, or set of events, but as a critical phase in a longer and complex maturational process which begins prenatally (Petersen & Taylor, 1980). When considering the entire biological life cycle, puberty is distinguished by the rate and magnitude of somatic change. The heightened rate of bodily change which results during puberty is second only to the rate of growth occurring during infancy (Petersen & Taylor, 1980). Unlike the infant, however, the older child has a developed consciousness through which the dramatic changes of puberty are experienced. This means that not only does the child respond psychologically to biological changes, but that psychological states may themselves influence biological changes. For example, under conditions of extreme stress, it is known that the menstrual cycle may be interrupted or cease completely for a time, as is frequently the case in anorexia nervosa, a weight loss disorder which has been found to affect mainly middle and upper-middle class females. Thus, the biological cannot be neatly delineated from the psychological or the social. The term biopsychosocial

8 – Adolescent Sexuality

Publisher Summary Adolescence is identified with the emergence of adult forms of sexual behavior. The distinction between sexual interest or motivation and sexual expression is relevant as motivation or interest and sexual expression take different normative forms over the life span. Social scientists who study the life span have focused their attention on differentiating the behaviors that are age related and those that may result from the impact of sociocultural and historical events. Phenomena such as the sexual revolution and increased teenage pregnancy may be termed sociohistorical events because they have emerged during historical times. Puberty is considered to be the biological event that marks the beginning of adolescence. With the onset of puberty, a childs body changes into an adult one. Secondary sex characteristics emerge, culminating in the attainment of adult reproductive and sexual capacity. The sexual potential of adolescents is apparent to others, signalled by mature physical stature.

Chapter 13 – Adolescent Sexuality1

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview on adolescent sexuality, with particular attention to recent changes in sexual behavior at adolescence. The existing evidence suggests that, while there has been relatively little change in the sexual behavior of boys, the sexual behavior of adolescent girls has changed dramatically over the past decade or so. The chapter explores the possible explanations for this phenomenon and considers the existing theories of adolescent sexuality. Sexual behavior at adolescence differs in some important respects from most other aspects of health. Biological problems are probably of lesser magnitude among the increasing number of younger and younger adolescent girls who are becoming pregnant. It is the psychological and social problems that are of concern. However, pregnancy is not the only health issue associated with sexual activity during adolescence. Sexually transmitted diseases have become a problem for many youths. Not only do adolescents often fail to notice or recognize the importance of sex-related health problems, but also often lack skills in obtaining adequate health care.

Representations of Self-Hypnosis in Personal Narratives

In a longitudinal study of self-hypnosis (SH), 33 subjects practiced SH one hour per day for four weeks. The subjects recorded their experiences following each daily SH sessions.