Abstract
This paper reports results of a study of 149 early adolescents' self-perceptions of their health concerns, as related to certain familial characteristics. Of these adolescents (aged 12 to 15 yr.) those in single-parent families expressed fewer concerns than those in traditional homes. Girls in smaller families (less than 4.55 persons) were more concerned about physical appearance—skin, etc. Girls in larger families (more than 4.55 persons) expressed psychological worry about “tension.” In contrast, boys expressed no significant health concerns, regardless of family size. Finally, ordinal position in the family was important: boys who were oldest or youngest siblings were concerned about their muscles. Girls, in contrast, who were oldest siblings expressed concern about nervousness and being down in the dumps; girls who were youngest siblings noted facial appearance as a concern, along with worries about feeling good about themselves, their future, emotions, and feelings.
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