First comes work, then comes marriage: Future orientation among African American young adolescents

In this study we gathered quantitative and qualitative information on the thoughts and feelings of 72 low income, African American sixth-graders about their future careers, romantic relationships, and family relationships. interviews were scored along several dimensions of future orientation: detail, optimism, pessimism. realism, and control beliefs. Children also rated the probability that various future life events would occur. Repented Measures ANOVAs revealed that sixth-graders were more detailed, optimistic, and realistic about their future careers than their romantic and family relationships and felt that they had more control over careers than relationships. No gender differences were found across the domains of future orientation. Descriptive information about at-risk adolescents' future orientations is presented. Results are discussed in terms of implications for intervention with at-risk youth.