ADOLESCENTS VIEWS OF PREFERRED HELPER CHARACTERISTICS AND BARRIERS TOSEEKING HELP FROM SCHOOL-BASED ADULTS

Focus groups of 9th graders were conducted to obtain their views of pr eferred characteristics of school-based adults to whom they would turn for help with a personal concern and to determine their perception of barriers to seeking help from adults in their schools. Students ident ified several positive characteristics of adult helpers such as ''nonj udgmental,'' ''makes self available,'' and ''relates to teens.'' Barri ers to seeking help included ''dual roles,'' ''psychologically inacces sible,'' and ''too busy.'' Responses reflected qualities of school-bas ed adults, conflicting adult roles, and characteristics of secondary s chools that may af feet help seeking. The results have implications fo r increasing the accessibility of school-based adults as a central pro tective factor for adolescents.