Researchers from University of Victoria (Canada) and East China Normal University (China) have worked on development of career guidance materials for middle schools. Conducted needs assessment of Chinese middle school students, their parents, and teachers. Results were juxtaposed with Canadian sample, highlighting both similarities and differences…

Comments on revision of Piagetian theory of reciprocity in forgiveness by Enright (PS 522 365) in this issue. Reviews relationship of Enright theory to previous research. Suggests that forgiveness may require moral insights in addition to reciprocity, but reciprocity appears central to children's and adults' understanding of forgiveness. Provides…

Teachers rated 948 boys from low socioeconomic environments on physical aggression at ages 6, 10, 11, and 12. Classified boys according to stability of fighting over time. Findings showed that developmental pathways of physically aggressive behavior for boys in low socioeconomic environments were related to familial adversity and poor parenting…

Examined the effect of socially ambiguous information on behavioral and trait perception. White children and black children were shown drawings of white characters and black characters whose behavior could be interpreted positively or negatively. Results provided evidence that race affects the manner in which behavior is interpreted in ambiguous…

Young adolescents (n=396) from single- and two-parent families carried pagers for one week, reporting on daily activities, companionship, and quality of subjective experience. Found that adolescents' overall patterns of time use and subjective experience were similar in both family types, although similarity was achieved by reorganization of…

Hospice of North Carolina developed and pilot tested curriculum materials dealing with death, loss, and grief for grades K-3, 4-8, and 9-12. Middle school curriculum was tested in 4 schools with 211 students. Findings from general information questionnaire administered to students suggest that middle school students experience many significant…

Evaluated six-week support group for six preadolescent siblings of children with mental or physical handicaps. Comparison with five nonparticipants revealed that group had significant effect on participants' perceptions of social support. Parents indicated some improvements in participants' behavior toward siblings. Found no significant…

Discussion of the development of educational radio programs highlights one particular program, "Kid's Corner;" introduces a method to identify and classify the attributes from the radio program; discusses those attributes which were shown to relate to children's judgments of appeal of the program; and suggests implications for…

A total of 881 third through fifth graders completed sociometric measures of acceptance and friendship, a measure of loneliness, a questionnaire on their best friends, and a measure of friendship satisfaction. Results indicated that, although many low-accepted children had satisfying friendships, they were less satisfying than the friendships of…

Used three-wave longitudinal design to examine relationships among emotional restraint, peer drug associations, and gateway drug use among 1,256 middle school students. In reciprocal model, low emotional restraint was significantly related to subsequent increases in gateway drug use among boys. In contrast, peer drug models and peer pressure were…

Mothers (n=112) with young, middle childhood, or older children with developmental delays completed the Parenting Stress Index. Child Domain scores were high for all age groups, but Parent Domain scores were within normal limits. The middle childhood group was higher in both domains than other groups. Degree of handicap and behavior problems were…

Examined changes in mothers' reported child-rearing practices in regard to independence and control, positive and negative affect, and disciplinary practices. The Child Rearing Practices Report was administered five times during an eight-year period. Substantial stability in behaviors and values was noted. Some practices changed with age. (BC)

Tested model of middle school science and mathematics achievement with national probability sample of 3,116 seventh grade students. Collected data from students and parents over three time periods in seventh and eighth grades. Concluded that, although prior achievement had dominant influence in schooling process, other variables including parental…

The association between boys' peer relations, antisocial behavior, academic skill deficits, and family ecology was examined. Two cohorts of boys and their families were interviewed, observed in the home, and assessed in school. (PCB)

Explores the challenge of keeping parents involved in their children's education beyond the elementary school years. Suggests the invitational model as proactive approach for keeping parents involved in the lives of their children, particularly during the transition years of middle school education. As background, discusses nature of…