Sixty self-rated depressed, behavioral-problem, and normal third- through fifth-grade children closely matched for sex, age, and socioeconomic status were assessed for number, quality, and impact of stressful life events in the past year. Results indicated that dysphoria-reporting children experienced more life events and higher qualitative index…

Examined whether younger children in classroom were disproportionately referred for school academic and behavior problems. Investigated subjects' month of birth in relation to referrals across gender and grade from kindergarten through fourth grade. Showed that younger children in the class and boys were likely to be referred. Results were…

Results confirm previous findings that the revised State University of New York at Stony Brook observation code is a valid instrument for quantifying and discriminating the classroom behavior of children referred because of hyperactive behavior. (Author)

Findings indicate minimal differences, on diagnostic tests, between children who exhibited torque and those who did not. Torque is defined as the circling of any X in a clockwise direction. Torque is not associated with learning problems in school. Diagnostic utility of torque should be carefully considered. (Author)

Reports the development and standardization of the teacher version of the Child Behavior Profile. Analyses showed significant differences on the scales between nonreferred boys and boys referred by teachers due to emotional or behavioral problems, supporting the discriminant validity of the teacher profile. (LLL)

Examined the combined influence of child characteristics and parent characteristics on parental perceptions. Results revealed a significant interaction, indicating that the combination of high maternal depression with high levels of child noncompliant behavior was associated with more perceived child maladjustment. (Author/BL)

Compared psychological and academic adjustment in 260 adopted and nonadopted children from 6-11 years old. Results indicated that adopted children were rated higher in psychological and school-related behavior problems, and lower in social competence and school achievement, than were nonadopted children, although most adopted children appear to be…

Three groups of children (rejected, neglected, and accepted) were identified for boys and girls separately and were compared on peer behavioral attributions, teacher ratings, analogue assertiveness task, and self-evaluation. Rejected children were clearly distinguished from their same-sex neglected and accepted classmates and were described by…

A behavior problem checklist was administered to the teachers of six to eight year old children. Eight factors were identified as Hyperactivity, Disciplinary Problems, Sluggishness, Paranoiac Tendencies, Social Withdrawal, Acting Out, Speech Problems; and Antisocial Tendencies. Three second order factors were identified as Neutroticism,…

Assigned 103 elementary students of separated/divorced parents to support group, support and skill building group; support, skill building, transfer, and parent training procedures; or no-treatment control. Children (n=26) from intact homes served as controls. Two skill-building conditions yielded durable improvements in adjustive behaviors in…

Assessed locus of control in a group of 32 boys. Compared to normal controls, hyperactive children scored more external on locus-of-control scale. The findings indicate the value of appraising locus of control and other personality and social variables when treating the hyperactive child. (Author/JAC)

Examined the relationship between social adjustment and problem solving skills in samples of popular, aggressive, and isolated boys. Popular boys generated more problem solutions than the other groups. Data showed deviant boys are deficient in generating solutions but not in evaluations of presented solutions. (Author/RC)

Reports a follow-up of a behavioral self-control treatment of children's severe night fears. All but one of 40 children and their families significantly reduced or overcame night fears in a three-week training program. After three years, 31 of 34 families located had maintained improvement. (JAC)

Administered Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) to biological mothers of children aged 6-13 (N=100). Found conduct disordered (CD) children (N=13) had mothers with higher MMPI antisocial, histrionic, and disturbed adjustment scores; attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADD/H) children (N=22) had no significant association…

A population-based, randomized universal classroom intervention trial for the prevention of disruptive behavior (i.e., attention-deficit/hyperactivity problems, oppositional defiant problems, and conduct problems) is described. Impact on developmental trajectories in young elementary schoolchildren was studied. Three trajectories were identified…