ADOLESCENT FOCAL THEORIES - AGE-TRENDS IN DEVELOPMENTAL TRANSITIONS

Focal theory is considered as a framework for looking at psychosocial and leisure transitions in middle and later adolescence. Although thes e transitions are examined from a different perspective in the present study, by utilising cross sectional survey data from a representative sample of three age groups of young Scots (13-14, 15-16 and 17-18 yea r-olds), the results confirm and extend the general age-trends in rela tional issues and leisure involvement reported in original studies. Wi thin this overall picture, few gender differences are found in age-rel ated relational transitions, but gender differences are apparent in sh ifting focuses of leisure involvement with age. Further, the findings suggest a linkage between relational issues in adolescence and leisure contexts, where psychosocial processes are seen to be associated with contextual changes in young people's lives. Focal theory has been cri ticised for a failure to take true account of the social circumstances , constraints and contexts affecting adolescent development, but in th e present study surprisingly few differences are found with respect to the young person's social class of family background, for example, wi th age-trends in developmental transitions similar for all social grou ps. By contrast, in later adolescence aspects of the young person's ow n socio-economic position, rather than that of their family background , are clearly linked to both relational issues and leisure involvement , for example, creating a disrupting effect on those young people who are currently unemployed or non-employed at this age. (C) 1996 The Ass ociation for Professionals in Services for Adolescents