Reports on research with four focus groups of 17-year-old girls of different education levels, about their need, expectations, and attitudes concerning contraceptives. Determined: (1) the school physician is not the person they want to seek help from; (2) peer influence is very important; and (3) girls expect confidentiality from their family…

Explores the intervention process of an indicated prevention program for high-risk youth (N=106). Results showed that there were direct and/or indirect effects of teacher and peer group support on personal control, depression, and suicide risk behaviors. The hypothesis that personal control mediates between support resources and reductions in…

This article highlights the myriad behavioral and adjustment problems that flow from negative self-perceptions about body image in children and adolescents. These negative beliefs are often exacerbated by peer harassment. (Author/MKA)

Investigated the cognitive gains of interacting pairs of Grade 10 students who show low levels of competence and fail to solve a task individually but who improve when working in peer interaction. Found that this phenomenon may occur when the two students disagree, have different strategies, and active hypothesis testing is made possible. (JPB)

Investigates the nature of input available to learners in the institutional setting of the academic advising session. Results indicate that evidence for the realization of speech acts, positive evidence from peers and status unequals, the effect of stereotypes, and limitations of a learner's pragmatic and grammatical competence are influential…

Studied why native-born American students are less motivated and less successful at learning French than non-native-born students. Findings indicate that native-born American students' lack of exposure to foreign languages and cultures via the media affected their motivation. Strategies are outlined for increasing motivation through greater…

This study demonstrated the use of peer sampling in establishing goals for instructing two older women with visual impairments in independent living skills. The participants nominated their own peers who provided measures on specific tasks that would add a greater degree of self-determination to the goal-setting process. (Contains references.)…

Study assessed the role of children's aggression and three indices of social competence (peer-preferred behaviors, teacher-preferred behaviors, school adjustment) in students' perceived relationships with their teachers among elementary school students. Poor school adjustment, particularly for boys, was associated with more negatively perceived…

Eating disorders among teens and younger children have reached epidemic levels. The school's primary role in helping students who may have eating disorders is referring them to specialists. Schools can also help students learn good eating habits and designate a resource person to serve as a liaison with community medical and mental health…

Examines the reciprocal nature of contributions made by 36 pairs of English infant school peers as they worked in classroom task groups. Indicates that year two children were significantly more responsive and demonstrated a great capacity for extended reciprocal interaction. Discusses the relational findings that children develop the ability to…

This multivariate panel study examines longer-term effects of a prevention program on trajectories of alcohol misuse and related risk factors. Analyses showed susceptibility, exposure, and alcohol misuse increased mostly linearly across adolescence and covaried positively within and across time, arguing that they exist in a mutually reinforcing…

The effectiveness of a peer imitation intervention with three preschool children with autism and one with developmental delays was studied. Results indicated participants increased peer imitation behaviors in small group and free play settings. Increases were also seen in social behavior and in levels of nonsocial engagement. (Contains…

Examined the role of regard for parents in Singapore adolescents' psychosocial competence, as indicated by self-esteem and susceptibility to antisocial peer pressure. Found that regard for parents was positively related to self-esteem and negatively associated with antisocial susceptibility. Regard for parents moderated the relation between…

Presents a case study that follows one high school's peer conflict mediation efforts to reduce violence. Over 8 years, suspensions for fighting decreased dramatically, verbal confrontations between students decreased somewhat, and the general atmosphere on campus grew more relaxed, with students relating better to one another and the school…

Describes an assignment in which senior psychology majors write letters of advice to incoming psychology freshmen. Provides a course context and focuses on the representative results and student evaluations of the assignment. Discusses the different purposes the letters have served. (CMK)