EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS AND UNRELATED ADULTS IN THE LIVES OF YOUNG ADOLESCENTS - A RESEARCH AGENDA

The presence of caring adults in the extended family and unrelated adu lts, such as neighbors, teachers, youth workers, and clergy, is though t to make a positive contribution to young adolescent development. Man y reports mention the importance of those relationships, but there is a sparse empirical literature describing their nature and role in youn g adolescents' lives. The available literature is reviewed here with r espect to (a) identifying the nonparental adults who positively affect adolescents; (b) characterizing the kinds and frequency of contact be tween adolescents and nonparental adults; and (c) articulating the fun ctions that the relationship serves and specifying the personal charac teristics of the nonparental adult. Specifically addressed in this art icle are the ways in which age and grade, gender; ethnicity and socioe conomic status of the adolescent and the characteristics of the commun ity, affect adolescents' relationships with nonparental adults.