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Biomedical subjects

D Offer

Publications and source records attributed to D Offer.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Cross-cultural studies of sex differences in normal adolescents' self-image.

One context for understanding an adolescent's (or any other individual's) abnormal functioning is an appreciation of normal or modal functioning in the culture to which that adolescent belongs. After decades of research and clinical observation there is no consensus about what constitutes modal adolescent functioning in the United States. Much less is known about adolescent functioning in other cultures. Results were suggestive of large, cross-cultural differences in self-image among normal adolescents. In most areas American teenagers reported the best functioning while Bengali teenagers reported the worst. There were consistent gender differences in self-image across cultures, with adolescent girls showing poorer self-image than adolescent boys in many areas. Results are discussed from the point of view of difficulties in doing cross-cultural psychiatric research and the need for further research in this field.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Prediction of adolescent suicide: a population model.

Suicide rates among adolescents (15--19-year-olds) in the United States are currently higher than ever recorded. The authors examined the relationship between suicide rates and population changes among adolescents. They found significant positive correlations between adolescent suicide rates, changes in the adolescent population, and changes in the proportion of adolescents in the population of the United States in 1933--1975. In contrast, the suicide rate of an older age group (65--69-year-olds) was inversely, but not significantly, related to shifts in that population. These results suggest that the suicide rates for the adolescent age group can be predicted, a finding which may have important public health consequences.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

The mental health professional's concept of the normal adolescent.

This article presents empirical evidence, based on the Offer Self-Image Questionnaire, comparing the self-image of normal adolescents, psychiatrically disturbed adolescents, and juvenile delinquents, with adolescent self-image as seen by 62 mental health professionals. The latter group was asked to complete the test the way they believed a normal, mentally healthy adolescent would complete it. Similar data were gathered from graduate students in psychology. In seven of ten scales, the mental health professionals viewed the normal adolescent as significantly more disturbed than the normal adolescent views himself or herself. The professionals saw the normal adolescents as having more problems than were reported either by the psychiatrically disturbed or the delinquent adolescents. These findings are important in terms of psychodynamic theory of adolescence and diagnostic problems encountered in work with adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

The self-image of adolescents with acute anorexia nervosa.

The Offer Self-Image Questionnaire for Adolescents was administered to 30 female adolescents with a diagnosis of acute anorexia nervosa. Patients were divided ianto an early group (12 to 15 years; N = 15) and a late group (16 to 19 years; N = 15). The mean percent weight loss calculated as deviation from norm weight for age and height was 32%, and the mean duration of illness was 1.3 years, similar for both groups, whereas age of onset of anorexia was significantly (P less than 0.001) different. All patients differed significantly from normal adolescents by displaying disturbances in mood and self-esteem (P less than 0.05), in social relationships (P less than 0.05), and in attitude toward sex (P less than 0.05); late adolescent patients additionally showed maladjustment in impulse control (P less than 0.05), self-perception and body image (P less than 0.01), and in general psychopathology (P less than 0.05). Patients were found well adjusted with regard to moral values, family relationships, and educational goals. The lesser adjustment problems in the younger group agree well with reports finding a more favorable prognosis for patients with an early onset of anorexia nervosa.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

The adolescent antisocial behavior check list.

Described the development and validation of a behavioral checklist that focuses on adolescent inpatient (N = 55) antisocial behavior. Reliability data and three sub-studies that tend to establish the validity of this instrument as a measure of antisocial behavior were presented. The implications for the study of adolescent antisocial behavior as a dependent variable were discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Research training in psychiatry: a survey of current practices.

The authors surveyed current opportunities and research training practices in psychiatric residency programs. Although most programs offer at least a journal club and manb state that research experiences are available, very limited research resources are available to residents in many programs. The availability of research teaching is quite variable, and few programs budget or spend money for resident research. Further, very few programs require any direct reesarch experience. These findings offer a partial explanation for the shortage of research psychiatrists.

Curriculum↗
PubMed1975

Violence among hospitalized delinquents.

We collected data on the extent of violent behavior among 55 male and female hospitalized juvenile delinquents during a period of three years. Violent behavior was correlated with the adolescent self-image and the ratings of staff and psychotherapists. We found that violent adolescent boys have a healthier self-image and are more liked by their therapists than nonviolent adolescent boys. For the female adolescents, we found the opposite. Initially, the mental health staff liked the nonviolent delinquents better; this finding was no longer significant after the adolescents were on the unit for 13 weeks. Our discussion focuses on the individual and staff psychodynamics and cultural factors that contribute to the outbreak of violence. Our plan is to further study our data in order to better understand the phenomena of violence.

Adolescent↗