Berger R, Shechter Y
Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Adolescence. 1989 Summer;24(94):357-74.
Adolescent girls in distress are at high risk due to their location at the intersection of three populations at risk: adolescents, females, and those in social distress. The first part of this article specifies the parameters of the population in terms of behavioral and personality features, based on empirical research in Israel as well as the United States. The second part discusses the main characteristics of each of the three populations, with special emphasis on the components of transition in each. The third part develops an integrative theoretical model that illustrates the uniqueness of this group and its problems, and that may serve as a basis for the development of diagnostic and treatment tools for helping these girls. In this model, the profiles of adolescents in general, adolescent boys, adolescent girls, and adolescent girls in distress are compared. The comparison is made in terms of physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development, interpersonal relationships, and status in the family. Comparison of the profiles reveals that adolescent girls in distress are located at the extreme end of the spectrum of the six developmental areas. Implications of the findings are discussed in terms of the inconsistency between messages on various levels: explicit versus implicit; intrafamilial versus social; and expectation versus opportunity. It is concluded that the specific needs of this group require the establishment of an appropriate policy as well as a variety of strategies, including nonconventional techniques, for creating a multidimensional intervention program.
处于困境中的少女面临着高风险，因为她们处于三类高危人群的交叉点：青少年、女性以及处于社会困境中的人群。本文第一部分根据以色列和美国的实证研究，从行为和个性特征方面明确了这一人群的参数。第二部分讨论了这三类人群各自的主要特征，特别强调了每类人群中过渡阶段的组成部分。第三部分构建了一个综合理论模型，该模型阐述了这一群体的独特性及其问题，并可为开发帮助这些女孩的诊断和治疗工具奠定基础。在这个模型中，对一般青少年、青少年男孩、青少年女孩以及处于困境中的少女的概况进行了比较。比较内容涉及身体、认知、社会和情感发展、人际关系以及家庭地位。概况比较表明，处于困境中的少女位于六个发展领域范围的极端位置。研究结果的影响从不同层面信息之间的不一致性进行了讨论：明确信息与隐含信息；家庭内部信息与社会信息；期望信息与机会信息。结论是，这一群体的特殊需求要求制定适当的政策以及各种策略，包括非传统技术，以创建一个多维度的干预项目。
