Investigated effects of pubertal, social, and biological factors on negative affect of 103 White girls aged 10 t0 14 years. Results indicate that social factors, and the interaction of negative life events and pubertal factors, accounted for more variance than did hormonal pubertal factors alone. (RJC)

In effort to reduce disruptive classroom behavior, five students attending school for behavior-disordered youth were shown videotapes depicting themselves or peer appropriately engaged in classroom activities. Effects were idiosyncratic across students, the most significant effects occurring for the self-observation procedure. (Author)

Investigated possible bias of Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) with 76 White and 90 Mexican-American fifth- and sixth-graders. Criterion variable was Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills (CTBS). Results showed considerable evidence of bias in differential predictive validity, indicating global cognitive score of K-ABC was less…

Data on perinatal and early childhood somatic and psychological risk factors of a random sample of children in early to middle childhood were used to examine the long-term risk of emotional and behavioral problems of late childhood and adolescence. (PCB)

Examined fears of fifth grade students and ways in which their parents perceived the fears. Responses from 66 students and 47 parents suggest that children have more fears than parents think they have. Children reported concerns over accidents, nuclear war, and death, while parents expected children to have more fears about scary movies, the dark,…

Points out ways the tobacco industry markets products to youth, including paid advertisements, sponsorship of sporting events, music concerts, and magazines. Relates several focal points for smoking prevention, which include deglamorization of cigarette advertisements and making smoking socially undesirable. (LS)

Examined first year postdivorce functioning of young adolescents, assessing social and social withdrawal behavior, cognitive functioning, and externalizing problems. Interparental conflict exerted significant main effect on social and social withdrawal behavior and, for cognitive functioning, interacted with marital status. Parental marital status…

Examines gratifications associated with home video cassette recorder (VCR) use among Israeli school children. Finds that while the VCR is often used, it has not achieved any special priority in its perceived utility to gratify various needs. (MS)

Discusses literature for transitional readers (8 to 11 year olds who can read fairly lengthy stories independently, but need to sharpen and extend reading comprehension and critical thinking skills). Outlines developmental characteristics of these readers, and characteristics of the literature they tend to favor. Includes references to 73…

Two experiments examined the development of recall organization by observing use of categorical and spatial clustering strategies and how encoding experiences and recall task influence degree of organization. Children and adults recalled furniture from their home. Older subjects organized items spatially; when recalling objects and their…

Examined alcohol use among 7,799 adolescents. Found alcohol use highly correlated with composite effects of variables (behavioral intention; attitude toward school; school misconduct; time spent on sports, extracurricular activities, religion, and academics; grade average; gender; and grade level). Alcohol use was positively correlated with…

The mental capacity of 120 children aged 10 to 16 years was measured with 2 visual information-processing tasks, and their level of moral development was assessed with the Sociomoral Reflection Measure. Results suggest that mental capacity is a necessary but not sufficient condition for moral developmental growth. (LB)

Construction, field testing with children with disabilities, and analysis of the preliminary version of the Preadolescent Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (PA-HOME) are described. The paper concludes that the assessment is a reasonably reliable scale with moderate correlations with other measures of the family environment.…

Examined young runaways' current risk behaviors, knowledge of AIDS, and beliefs about preventing AIDS by questioning 130 male and female subjects from shelters in New York City in 1988-89. Results did not explain the 6.7 percent seroprevalence rate reported in l988. Recommends closer inquiries regarding IV drug use and prostitution. (DM)

Describes a program implemented in Navarra, Spain, to prepare children for hospitalization and to provide psychopedagogical follow-up to develop positive self-concepts. Describes the effects of the program on 40 hospitalized children between the ages of 8 and 12, reporting a more positive self-concept among the children who received the…