Adolescent Development and the Junior High School Environment

Abstract

This article uses a stage-environment fit paradigm to provide evidence of a mismatch between early adolescents' developmental needs and aspects of the junior high school classroom environment. The lack of synchronicity between the developing adolescent and the school environment is implicated in the etiology of a number of psychosocial problems such as poor self-esteem, drops in academic performance, truancy, and school dropout. The consequences of differential treatment of pubescent females compared with their nonpubescent peers within the school system are described. Six patterns of mismatch, including systemic and interpersonal domains that put adolescents at risk, are outlined. Social work interventions that address the problem areas are discussed, and an advocacy agenda is proposed.