Adolescent Mental Health Study, 1978-1990

A longitudinal design was used to study 327 young adolescents and their parents during the transition from childhood to adolescence (grades 6-8) in two successive cohorts (1979 and 1980). These two cohorts were then followed up in grade 12 and again when participants were 21 years old to provide information about the later significance of adolescent experiences.

This longitudinal study consisted of 327 randomly selected young adolescents and their parents from two suburban school districts and was designed to examine the interrelationships among physical, mental, and social development adolescence. Biological, psychological, cognitive and social development were assessed in relation to parental support and family relationships, to school transitions and the environment. The objectives of this study were to assess the various changes involved with the transition from childhood to adolescence (grades 6-8) and to examine the coping skills which develop as a result of such challenges.