Internetmobbing är idag ett stort socialt problem då det bidrar till att mångaungdomar lider av psykisk ohälsa. Samtidigt är det svårt att helt undvika att blidrabbad då den nya teknologin ofta är en nödvändighet i en ungdoms vardag.Internetmobbing är ett beteende, att genom olika teknologiska metoder sommail, mobil och sociala forum, försöka att skada någon. Studien baseras påenkätundersökningar i tre gymnasieklasser, där jag försökt ta reda pårespondenternas erfarenheter kring internetmobbing. Resultat påvisar blandannat att det finns fler pojkar än flickor som har en positiv inställning tillinternetmobbing. En stor del av respondenterna har någon gång själva bidragitmed nedsättande kommentarer till andra på Internet, men det var färre somsjälva blivit utsatta.

Drug abuse peaks during adolescence, and exposure to drugs during adolescence predicts drug abuse in adulthood. Nevertheless, adolescence is not widely studied in animal models of drug intake. Moreover, few studies have investigated sex differences in drug-reinforced behavior during adolescence. We studied age- and sex-differences in acquisition and maintenance of amphetamine self-administration in Sprague-Dawley rats. Adolescent males took more amphetamine than adult males, supporting the hypothesis that adolescents are more sensitive to amphetamine. A high rate of “inappropriate” active lever presses among periadolescent males suggests impulsive behavior. In the maintenance phase of testing, young adult males failed to work as hard as adult males. In contrast, young adult females worked harder than adult females. Comparing sex groups, young adult females worked harder than age-matched males to obtain amphetamine. These results will ultimately help to form effective treatment and prevention programs for drug dependent individuals of all ages and both sexes.

Hydrocephalus is a common pediatric neurosurgical condition affecting the body’s ability to regulate cerebral spinal fluid. Treatment commonly involves insertion of a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt re-establishing cerebral spinal fluid flow. Shunts are prone to malfunction, with headache being a common symptom. Headache has predominantly been recognized as a sign of shunt malfunction and not seen as a pain event. While headache is common in pediatric hydrocephalus patients with an apparently functional shunt, it has not been rigorously investigated putting them at risk for the consequences of unresolved pain. Researchers have not addressed headache within this patient population outside of shunt functioning or the impact of headache from the child and adolescent perspective. Drawing on the Gate Control Theory, the Neuromatrix Theory of Pain and the International Headache Societies Headache Classification system, a mixed methods study design was undertaken to (a) determine the prevalence, frequency and nature of headaches, (b) describe potential child factors associated with headaches and (c) evaluate the impact of headaches on the child’s and adolescent’s’ school, social and family life. Sixty six percent of children and adolescents reported headache within a one month period. Based on the modified International Headache Society’s criteria, 13.0% of headaches were tension-like, 13.2% were unclassifiable 33.5% were migraine-like and 38.8% were mixed. Etiology was significant with children diagnosed with tumour and congenital without myelomeningocele having a decreased tendency to report headache compared to children diagnosed with congenital with myelomeningocele. Children and adolescents described hidden emotions and missing out on many of their school, social and family activities. The main themes from the qualitative analysis were invisibility, normalcy and control/out of control. Etiology and multiple psychosocial and psychological factors potentially influence the headache experience in children and adolescents with shunted hydrocephalus. Future studies are required to further explore and delineate factors impacting headache within this study population.

A basic interpretive qualitative research approach (Merriam, 2002) was used to investigate the experiences of adolescent females engaged in elite dance training while attending regular high school programs. Participants were five adolescent females from the local dance community of a mid-size Canadian Prairie city. Semi-structured interviews provided an opportunity for the participants to share their experiences and perspectives, and describe what it is like to dance through high school. Data were analyzed in terms of Kearneys (2001) shared meaning and descriptive categories. The shared meaning of the dancers experiences reflected a common sentiment of mastery, accomplishment in both dance and school, and recognition of dance as a coping behavior and resource. Descriptive categories included two themes: The Daily Life of a Dancer (School and Dance Integrated) and The Social Life of a Dancer (School and Dance Separated). Findings are discussed in terms of the current literature on dance training and extracurricular activities for adolescents; implications are identified for counselling and educational professionals; and recommendations are made for future research.

The purpose of this study was to investigate under experimental conditions whether the self-concepts of adolescents could be improved through the use of assertiveness training in the classroom. Additionally, shifting of locus of control from external to internal was measured. Pioneering aspects of the present study included the use of assertiveness training as an independent variable and the presentation of a brief treatment paradigm within a normal educational setting.The twenty-eight subjects were all sophomore and junior students at the General H. H. Arnold High School. The study was conducted during the spring of 1978.An intact group, pre-test post-test design was used. The students in one classroom were used as an experimental group and the students in the other classroom were used as a control group. The two groups were demographically equivalent. Subjects in the experimental condition participated in six assertiveness training sessions over a three-week period. The assertiveness training included exercises intended to produce increased levels of insight, training in both verbal and nonverbal behavioral components of assertion, United States Military Community, Wiesbaden, West Germany and role playing in which both oppositional and commendatory assertive behaviors were practiced. Additionally, experimental subjects received training in coping with possible adverse consequences of their assertive behavior. Experimental subjects also received education in the occasional appropriateness of not asserting one's self, as well as instruction in correcting one's own errors. The appropriate receiving of assertive responses from others was also discussed and demonstrated. Subjects in the control condition viewed neutral films during the same time period as the experimental group. Both groups of subjects were debriefed by the experimenter at the end of treatment.The measures used for each subject were the Total Positive score of the Tennessee Self Concept Scale and the Rotter Internal-External Scale, which was scored in the direction of externality. Both instruments were administered as pre-test and post-test measures.The effects of the treatment were analyzed through the use of multivariate and unvaried analyses of covariance with pre-test scores serving as covariates. The two hypotheses of differences between mean treatment group scores on the Total Positive score of the Tennessee Self Concept Scale and the Rotter Internal-External Scale were first tested simultaneously using a multivariate analysis of covariance. The null hypothesis stated that there would be no difference between the treatment and control group vectors of means based on the Total Positive score of the Tennessee Self Concept Scale and the Rotter InternalExternal Scale. The multivariate F value was computed as .1770 (p <.8390). Therefore, the null hypothesis was not rejected. Subsequent computation of univariate F values also yielded statistically nonsignificant results.Under the constraints of the present study, the following conclusions were made: (1) Assertiveness training did not produce more positive self concept than did the neutral films in the control condition. (2) Assertiveness training did not produce less externality of locus of control than did the neutral films in the control condition.Implications of these findings suggest short-term assertiveness training is ineffective for modifying self-concept and locus of control, at least within the adolescent population sampled. Future research of a similar nature should therefore focus on: (1) isolating the minimal effective treatment time, (2) additional control variables such as the measurement of effectiveness of the assertiveness training methodologies with adolescent populations, (3) comparisons between the experience levels of the subjects used, and (4) the use of assertiveness training as a technique integrated into a psychotherapeutic modality rather than as a separate and distinct methodology.

Hydrocephalus is a common pediatric neurosurgical condition affecting the body’s ability to regulate cerebral spinal fluid. Treatment commonly involves insertion of a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt re-establishing cerebral spinal fluid flow. Shunts are prone to malfunction, with headache being a common symptom. Headache has predominantly been recognized as a sign of shunt malfunction and not seen as a pain event. While headache is common in pediatric hydrocephalus patients with an apparently functional shunt, it has not been rigorously investigated putting them at risk for the consequences of unresolved pain. Researchers have not addressed headache within this patient population outside of shunt functioning or the impact of headache from the child and adolescent perspective. Drawing on the Gate Control Theory, the Neuromatrix Theory of Pain and the International Headache Societies Headache Classification system, a mixed methods study design was undertaken to (a) determine the prevalence, frequency and nature of headaches, (b) describe potential child factors associated with headaches and (c) evaluate the impact of headaches on the child’s and adolescent’s’ school, social and family life. Sixty six percent of children and adolescents reported headache within a one month period. Based on the modified International Headache Society’s criteria, 13.0% of headaches were tension-like, 13.2% were unclassifiable 33.5% were migraine-like and 38.8% were mixed. Etiology was significant with children diagnosed with tumour and congenital without myelomeningocele having a decreased tendency to report headache compared to children diagnosed with congenital with myelomeningocele. Children and adolescents described hidden emotions and missing out on many of their school, social and family activities. The main themes from the qualitative analysis were invisibility, normalcy and control/out of control. Etiology and multiple psychosocial and psychological factors potentially influence the headache experience in children and adolescents with shunted hydrocephalus. Future studies are required to further explore and delineate factors impacting headache within this study population.

Cette étude exploratoire cherche à mettre à jour l'influence de la publicité chez les adolescentes. Cette influence est envisagée d'une part en ce qui concerne l'achat de vêtements et de produits de beauté et d'autre part en relation avec des facteurs sociologiques tels que l'estime de soi et la recherche identitaire. C'est par les éclairages tirés de la sociologie, de la communication, de la psychologie et de l'anthropologie que l'influence publicitaire sur les adolescentes est articulée au fil des chapitres. À partir de cet ensemble, une grille de dimensions est induite et élaborée pour notre méthodologie de recherche qualitative. Ainsi, quatre Montréalaises entre 12 et 17 ans ont été retenues pour contribuer à notre étude. C'est au moyen d'une analyse de leur discours confronté au recensement des recherches que nos constats furent réalisés. Ces derniers révèlent un désir de singularisation plus fort que l'influence des amis et de la publicité dans le désir d'acheter. Notre analyse confirme l'action des stéréotypes de beauté sur la dimension de l'estime de soi, mettant en lumière l'esprit vif et critique des jeunes filles envers les stratégies commerciales. Nous y découvrons l'importance de la famille et des garçons dans le comportement d'achat et d'habillement. En conclusion est soulignée l'ampleur grandissante du placement de produit et d'Internet semblant influencer davantage les adolescentes dans leur comportement d'achats que la publicité traditionnelle. ______________________________________________________________________________ MOTS-CLÉS DE L’AUTEUR : adolescence, singularisation, identité, estime de soi, publicité, famille, pairs, achat, marque.

Cette thèse porte sur les facteurs psychosociaux associés d'une part à la précocité sexuelle et d'autre part aux pratiques sexuelles exposant les jeunes aux grossesses imprévues et aux infections transmissibles sexuellement (ITS), soit le mauvais usage du condom et les partenaires sexuels multiples. De récentes études ont démontré que des facteurs démographiques, individuels, interpersonnels et contextuels interviennent dans la sexualité des adolescents. Or ces études ont surtout été menées auprès d'échantillons d'adolescents américains, rétrospectivement, à partir de devis de recherche transversaux et d'analyses univariées ou, plus rarement, multivariées. Cette thèse s'est intéressée à l'émergence de la sexualité adolescente de façon prospective, auprès d'échantillons provenant de contextes géographiques variés, à l'échelle régionale québécoise (urbain versus banlieusard) et internationale (Canada versus Italie), à partir de devis longitudinaux. La précocité sexuelle et les CSR ont chacun fait l'objet d'une étude empirique. Dans la première étude, la contribution respective des problèmes de comportement, des caractéristiques de la relation parent-enfant et des caractéristiques des amis a été examinée en 2e secondaire pour prédire la précocité sexuelle, en prenant en compte les facteurs démographiques typiquement impliqués. L'âge de la première relation sexuelle a été recueilli à trois reprises annuelles auprès de deux échantillons d'adolescents québécois provenant de milieux de vie distincts, urbain(n=136; 61% filles) et banlieusard(n=265;62% filles). Après avoir détecté et corrigé les incohérences développementales, les sujets ont été classifiés en quatre groupes selon l'âge.de leur première relation sexuelle (13 et moins, 14, 15, 16 et plus ou encore vierges). Dans les deux échantillons, lorsque tous les prédicteurs étaient considérés simultanément, de hauts niveaux de comportements antisociaux, une proportion élevée d'amis de l'autre sexe et l'appartenance à une famille non nucléaire avaient une contribution unique et significative pour distinguer les jeunes ayant eu leur première relation sexuelle de façon précoce des plus tardifs. L'effet modérateur du genre a également été examiné, mais aucune interaction ne s'est avérée significative. Dans la deuxième étude, la valeur prédictive des modèles théoriques classiques de socialisation et de sélection a été comparée empiriquement et longitudinalement auprès d'un échantillon d'adolescents Canadiens et Italiens (n=267; 55% filles; 53% Canadiens), questionnés annuellement de secondaire 2 à 4. Le modèle de socialisation postule que les problèmes de comportement s'acquièrent dans les groupes d'amis où s'opère un entraînement à la déviance. Le modèle de sélection pose plutôt l'hypothèse que les jeunes ayant des problèmes de comportement s'affilient les uns aux autres et que les CSR font partie de ce processus de sélection des amis. Les pratiques parentales (supervision, contrôle, établissement de limites), les problèmes de comportement des jeunes et de leurs amis (comportements antisociaux, usage de substances psychotropes) ont été utilisés pour prédire l'utilisation systématique du condom et le nombre de partenaires sexuels. Les analyses d'équations structurales ont démontré une meilleure adéquation du modèle de socialisation pour expliquer l'émergence des CSR chez certains jeunes. Spécifiquement, une médiation complète des pratiques parentales, via la déviance des amis d'abord et les problèmes de comportement des jeunes ensuite, a été observée pour l'usage du condom. Ce résultat s'applique également au nombre de partenaires sexuels, bien qu'un lien direct additionnel des pratiques parentales ait été trouvé. Sur le plan théorique, cette thèse met en évidence les influences directes et indirectes des parents sur les pratiques sexuelles de leurs adolescents, le modelage comportemental dans le groupe d'amis et les liens entre précocité sexuelle, CSR et comportements extériorisés. Sur le plan appliqué, ces résultats orientent les programmes de prévention des ITS et des grossesses imprévues à l'adolescence vers trois cibles: les parents, les amis et les adolescents. Les programmes offerts aux parents pour améliorer leurs pratiques parentales et les interventions visant à outiller les jeunes à résister à la pression des pairs sont recommandées. Enfin, les programmes de promotion de la santé auraient avantage à être inclus dans le curriculum scolaire dès le dernier cycle du primaire alors que les groupes d'amis commencent à devenir mixtes et à adresser directement les aspects liés à la santé sexuelle (importance de se sentir prêt(e) avant d'avoir des relations sexuelles, tests de dépistage, usage du condom, etc). ______________________________________________________________________________ MOTS-CLÉS DE L’AUTEUR : Adolescence, Sexualité, Longitudinal, Socialisation, Contexte.

Identity development is a crucial process which occurs during the period of adolescence (Erikson, 1950, 1968). Researchers have suggested that the adolescent period is becoming prolonged due to increasing numbers of individuals pursuing post-secondary education (Kerckhoff, 2002; Larson, 2002; Mortimer & Larson, 2002). During this period known as “post-adolescence”, further identity formation is believed to take place (Mortimer & Larson, 2002). Despite these suggestions, little research has been performed regarding identity development during post-adolescence. In addition, the role of leisure during the identity formation period has largely been overlooked. The few studies that have been conducted on this topic focus on the relationship between leisure participation and identity development, while failing to acknowledge the role of other salient leisure lifestyle variables such as leisure experience, motivation and meaningfulness. In addition, previous studies have used global measures of identity, rather than considering separate dimensions of personal and social identity. The present study expands upon previous literature by investigating personal and social identity development during post-adolescence, and the relationship between identity and a variety of leisure lifestyle variables. Participants included 465 students from the University of Waterloo. Questionnaires were completed regarding leisure participation, meaningfulness derived from participation, leisure experience, motivation and identity. Results of the study indicate that identity development is still occurring during the period of post-adolescence. Leisure participation, meaningfulness, leisure experience and motivation all displayed some degree of a relationship with identity. Personal and social identities yielded differing associations with these leisure lifestyle factors. Personal identity was most strongly related to leisure experience, while social identity was associated with leisure motivation. Although causality cannot be inferred from the results of this study, indications do exist that these leisure lifestyle variables may exert some influence on the identity development process.

In the field of adolescent literacy studies, writing has been neglected in both research and instruction (Juzwik, Curcic, Wolbers, Moxley, Dimling, & Shankland, 2005; Graham & Perin, 2007; Scherff & Piazza, 2005; Troia, 2007), especially in urban settings. Given the importance of writing instruction in secondary education, this qualitative case study investigates the writing experiences of five urban adolescent writers in a high school in a major city in the Southeastern U.S. Research questions included: (1) What are the writing experiences of urban adolescents in and out of school? and (2) In what ways do urban adolescents make use of multiliteracies in their writing experiences? This multicase study (Merriam, 1998; Stake, 1995) includes data collected from interviews, observations, field notes, samples of student work, and electronic messages. For a period of six months, five key participants acted as co-researchers by providing feedback and collaborating on inductive analysis of the data. Findings revealed that students employed multiple modes and genres of writing, and that they viewed social and technological contexts as important factors in their composing experiences. Despite these findings, the students did not have many opportunities to take advantage of recent advancements in 21st century writing approaches. The new ―Age of Composition‖ (Yancey, 2009) has not arrived in urban environments where concerns of power and access remain. This study contributes to the field of literacy studies by illuminating the experiences of the participants and providing recommendations for educators in urban contexts. As Yancey recommends, educators need to design a new model for 21st century composition instruction. The findings of this study suggest the following instructional implications for secondary classrooms: 1. 21st century composition instruction should include multimodal compositions and multimedia projects. 2. 21st century composition instruction should give a central role to the use of technology. 3. Students should have opportunities for personal expression and identity exploration. 4. Teachers should create composition lessons that engage and empower students. 5. 21st century composition instruction should be transformative.