Data are reviewed from the US National Longitudinal Study of Educational Effects. Results from aggregate analysis are quite similar to those reported by others. When individual variation is explored, however, the effects of family configuration become relatively trivial, and the confluence theory appears untenable. (Author/MH)

An updated model of the effect of birth rate on demand for higher education predicts that if current patterns hold, the total demand for higher education by U.S. residents ages 18-24 will increase by 30% over the next decade. The projection assumes a continuation of past funding availability and continued influence of cohort size and international…

Used heart rate and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) assessed at 33 to 35 weeks gestational age to predict developmental outcome at 3 years for very low birth weight infants. Found that RSA measures predicted developmental outcome beyond effects of birth weight, medical risk, and socioeconomic status. For infants < 1,000 grams, RSA maturation…

The Los Angeles Unified School District contracted with GeoBased Systems to produce an enrollment projection model based on a set of assumptions regarding fertility, mortality, and migration for each of four ethnic groups. This article discusses the data, methodology, and results used by individual schools to project student numbers. (MLH)

A longitudinal study examined predictive relations among sociometric status, aggression, and adolescent childbearing; the relation among peer status, aggression, and multiple births; and whether these variables are related to the timing of adolescent childbearing. Results suggest that controversial peer status and aggression predict adolescent…

A look back at the 1965 Moynihan report makes it apparent that the nation has experienced further social decline in the past three decades and that society is becoming inured to the trauma. It is encouraging that public discourse is beginning to acknowledge society's problems and look for solutions. (SLD)

Examines the applicability of the medieval kingdom social role topology with kindergarten children and assesses the association between the social roles children assume and seven nonbehavioral variables. Confirmed hypotheses that the topology could be distilled from a sample of kindergarten children (n=173) and that specific nonbehavioral…

Used a longitudinal sibling research design and a large, nationally representative sample of 15- to 22-year-old siblings to study shared and unshared environmental influences on delinquency. Although no unshared family environmental influences were found for sisters and mixed-sex siblings, they may have existed for brothers. Data suggested…

Surveyed 4,000 third and sixth graders and their parents and teachers, from 4 Chinese provinces. Found that, although only children scored higher on tests of verbal ability, were taller, and weighed more than firstborn and later born children, other measures of academic and personality development were similar between the groups. (MDM)

International adoption is discussed, with particular emphasis on adoption by Americans and Europeans of Ecuadoran children and on illegal adoption operations. (BC)

Discusses the shifting population of Quebec Province; the cultural, social, and political issues regarding the province's low fertility rate; and how these affect immigration policy. Along with policies encouraging immigration, Quebec encourages enrollment of immigrant children in French-speaking schools. (SLD)

Findings suggest that social difficulties that are present as late as three years of age in some low-birthweight children are related to the type and severity of early medical complications. In spite of severe neonatal medical risk, high-risk and low-birthweight children showed many similarities in their social development to low-risk and…

Presents two exercises designed to demonstrate the influence of two Adlerian principles on personality. Includes exercises dealing with birth order and earliest recollection. Concludes that the exercises actively demonstrate major concepts for counseling courses in Adlerian psychotherapy. Reports that students rated both exercises highly, with…

Linguistic and cognitive development of 26 premature and 27 full-term infants was studied longitudinally over the first 3 years of life. Patterns of lexical and cognitive development did not differ substantially between groups, nor did standard language test measures indicate differences at the study's end except with very low birthweight…

Examines differences between 4th-6th grade children of alcoholics (COAs) and non-COAs on measures of internalized shame, self-esteem, perceived support, and teacher behavior ratings. No significant differences were found on measures of social support and shame; however self-esteem and teacher ratings for COAs were significantly lower. Gender…