Pubertal Timing and Adolescent Adjustment and Behavior: Conclusions Vary by Rater

The effects of pubertal timing on adolescent development have been studied since the late 1930s, yet the research has yielded inconsistent findings. One reason for such inconsistency may be the source of the rating. The purpose of this report was to examine whether pubertal timing by self-report (SR), parent report (PR), or physical exam (PE) predicted the same aspects of adjustment and behavior problems. Fifty-two girls, age 9–14 years (M = 12.0 ± 1.6) and 56 boys, age 10–15 years (M = 12.7 ± 1.3) and their parents were enrolled in the longitudinal study. Parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist and adolescents completed the Offer Self-Image Questionnaire. Using regression, later maturing boys and girls had more adjustment and behavior problems than on-time or earlier maturers in cross-sectional analyses. Longitudinally, there were few significant relationships between pubertal timing at the first occasion of measurement and adjustment and behavior problems 1 year later. Overlap in correlates of adjustment and behavior problems across raters was not always found. More significant findings were evident between pubertal timing and adjustment and behavior problems for boys than for girls and more for ratings by PE than by SR or PR. Caution appears in order when drawing conclusions about pubertal timing and adolescent behavior when rater of pubertal development or timing of rating varies across studies. The selection of who rates pubertal development and the timing of the ratings should be based on the underlying theoretical framework guiding the hypotheses.     

Academic Achievement and the Self-Image of Adolescents with Diabetes Mellitus Type-1 and Rheumatoid Arthritis

A total of 69 adolescents, 21 with diabetes mellitus type-1 (DM), 24 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and 24 controls matched for sex, age, social background, and living environment, were compared by means of their school grades and the Offer Self-Image Questionnaire. The ages of the children at the time of the diagnosis of the disease and its subsequent duration were the same in the DM and the RA groups. Results show that the academic achievement of adolescents with DM who are well balanced and adolescents with RA with mild or moderate symptoms are equal to those of their healthy peers. In the OSIQ scales there were no statistically significant differences between the groups. In the groups of controls, there were more significant correlations between the OSIQ scores and the school grades than those with the DM or RA adolescents. The direction was positive. The correlations of the 3 groups did not differ significantly from each other. In case of adolescents with various kinds of chronic diseases, it is important to support their motivation for learning and planning the future.Medical doctor, specializes in child and adolescent psychiatry. Since gaining her PhD at the University of Turku in 1987, she has also specialized in hospital administration and adolescent psychotherapy. Since 1982, she has been the senior doctor of the Child Psychiatric Clinic of Satakunta Hospital District. Currently she is the head of the Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic, Turku University Hospital. She has trained both child psychiatrists and adolescent psychiatrists. During the years 1990–1992 she has participated as a postdoctoral fellow in the Clinical Research Training Program for Adolescents sponsored by the NIMH.Experienced Psychologist and Researcher. She received her PhD in neuropsychology at the University of Turku. She is currently a clinical psychologist at the Adolescent Psychiatry Unit of Turku University Central Hospital. She is an expert on neuropsychological test methods and also responsible for teaching their application.     

Self-Image and Perceived Self-Efficacy During Adolescence

The aim of the research is to assess self-image and perceived self-efficacy during different phases of adolescence. We conducted a survey of 675 adolescents selected according to gender (289 males and 386 females), age (early, middle, and late adolescence), residential zone (low to middle and middle to high social background), and the kind of school (Italian arts/science/languages/classics-based high school or liceo vs. vocational school or istituto tecnico). The adolescents completed the Offer Self Image Questionnaire (OSIQ) to evaluate dimensions of self and a series of perceived self-efficacy scales. Adolescents generally describe themselves in positive terms. Multivariate analysis revealed that boys and students who attend vocational schools have a better self-image than girls and students at licei. Age and residential zone had only moderate effects. Girls proved to have better academic and regulatory self-efficacy but a lesser degree of emotional self-efficacy. We suggest that girls experience higher levels of stress during adolescence, probably as a result of educational factors, while the difficulties of liceo students may be the result of the significant distance between the actual self and the ideal self. The use of two constructs (self-image and self-efficacy) confirmed the existence of multifaceted aspects contained within the concept of self.     

东亚安全结构中的日本及其战略选择

随着冷战的结束和中国的和平崛起,日本在东亚地区的战略选择正处于至关重要的十字路口。进入21世纪以来,日本国内精英层对东亚安全中日本的定位基本上可分为三个派别:"现实主义派""东亚共同体派"和"脱离对美从属派"。日本国内精英界有关东亚战略选择的讨论也呈多元化的趋势。在官方层面,自2012年上台的安倍政权的战略选择徘徊于"对美从属"和"自主独立"之间。值得注意的是,日本国家战略的具体落实往往受到其国内政治、美国的态度和其自身文化思维——身份认同和非理性因素的制约未来日本的战略走向,将取决于美国在东亚地区的实力消长、日本国内政治的变化以及日本自身对其身份认同的调整。     

论共产党员在构建和谐社会中的自身形象建设

加强共产党员的自身形象建设,不仅是保持党的先进性的重要内容,而且是构建和谐社会的重要标志。在构建和谐社会新的历史时期,作为一名共产党员自身形象建设的要求应该是内在精神与外化行为、党员意识与党员形象、平凡性与先进性诸因素的和谐统一。     

Construct Validity of the Offer Self-Image Questionnaire and Its Relationship with Self-Esteem,Depression, and Ego Development

Construct validity of the Offer Self-Image Questionnaire (OSIQ) was studied in a sample of 194 normal Finnish adolescents from 14 to 16 years of age. Confirmatory factor analysis provided support for the hierarchical structure of adolescents’ self-image with 5 lower-order factors loading on a single higher-order factor. Lower-order factors were Personally Anxious Self, Social Relationships, Sexual Attitudes, Family Relationships, and Social Conscience. The relationships between the self-image areas of the OSIQ, global self-esteem, depression, and ego development were also examined. The results support the construct, convergent, and discriminant validity of the presented structure of the OSIQ.He received M.A. from University of Helsinki. Major research interest concern adolescent psychological developmentHe received Ph.D. from University of Helsinki. Major research interests include psychosocial health risks and organizational behavior.He received M.D. from Lausanne University and Ph.D. from Helsinki University. Major research interests include attachment issues, fatherhood, and foster parenting.He received his Ph.D. in psychiatry from the University of Helsinki. Major research interests are developmental theory of adolescence and personality development of adolescents in chronic illness.He received Ph.D. from University of Cambridge. Major research interests concern personality and developmental psychology.