Women's perceptions of the adolescent experience.

Two focus groups of culturally and racially diverse middle-class women were used to examine the transitional process from their pre-adolescence through adolescence, and the issues, consequences, and coping strategies that emerged during this pivotal time in their lives. Changes in self-confidence, issues about body image, boys' sexual advances, and changes in parental relationships and friendships were pressures that had an impact on their adolescent years. Suggestions are made for future research.