The complexity of perceived control is illustrated through the Life Events and Aging Project (LEAP), a 12-occasion assessment of predictors and correlates of the mental health of 246 older adults over nearly 5 years. Constructs of perceived control, internality, and personal mastery should be placed in a transactional framework. (SLD)

Initial findings and case studies of a 30-year follow-up of gifted students and adults suggest that characteristics such as love of one's work, persistence, purpose in life, love of challenge, high energy level, and a sense of mission may be more important in the long run than creative ability, intelligence, and high school achievement. (DB)

Investigates the impact of social and economic changes in New Zealand on the identity-formation process of late adolescents over six years of economic reforms. Results from 140 and 131 undergraduate students in 1984 and 1990, respectively, indicate that most students continue to find occupation of primary importance to self-definition. (SLD)

Examined effects of ethnic background on group interaction and student-teacher relations by observing 273 Turkish, Surinam, and Dutch 4-year olds and their teachers in 29 Dutch schools. Found Turkish and Surinam pupils were less involved in group activities than Dutch children and, in play situations, teachers appeared to give more attention to…

Survey results from cohorts of 511 and 222 gifted and accelerated students surveyed at ages 13, 18, and 23 years and a subset of 73 students indicate that students generally express positive feelings about acceleration. Nonintellectual personal attributes commonly used to select students for acceleration may be inappropriately used. (SLD)

This study examined the effects of school learning variables (quality, motivation, academic coursework, and homework) on high school students' grades across five ethnic groups using data from a national longitudinal study. Results indicated that the variables were important to students' grades. Asian-American students' learning was strongly…

Children at risk for cognitive difficulties were put in two intervention groups, family and day care education and family education alone, and one control group. Children were tested for cognitive performance. The family and day care group scored higher than other groups. No intervention effects were observed for the family education alone group.…

Data from a longitudinal survey of mathematically precocious 13-year olds (n=1,247) were used to test 5 factors (quality and quantity of instruction, home environment, motivation, and ability) for their ability to predict educational achievement and educational and career aspirations. Students were followed until age 23. (SM)

The extent to which students with disabilities are represented in national data collection programs was investigated by reviewing nine such programs that are receiving attention in current educational reform initiatives. Results suggest that 40-50% of students with disabilities are excluded from these prominent data collection programs. (SLD)

Using data from a health behavior questionnaire, this study used cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches to predict sixth graders' smoking behavior, Predictor variables reflecting interpersonal and intrapersonal domains were included. Higher rates of accurate classification into smoking categories were achieved with cross-sectional analyses.…

Associations between parental and teacher reports of conduct problems at age eight and psychosocial outcomes at 18 were longitudinally examined with 1,265 New Zealand children. Overall, conduct problems at age eight predicted elevated rates of educational underachievement, juvenile offending, substance abuse/dependence, and mental health problems…

A prospective study investigated associations between preschool temperament and environmental factors and school-age personality in 93 Swedish children. Found that personality was predicted by early temperament and environmental factors such as external day care and negative life events. Extraversion was most clearly related to temperament.…

Longitudinal, retrospective, and cross-sectional data on the relationship between giftedness in childhood and adulthood indicate that children who became eminent adults did not necessarily fit conceptions of giftedness driving current school programs. The paper presents directions for school gifted programs and perspectives for families that are…

A study investigated the effectiveness of two- and 3.5-day domestic-violence interclerkships in improving the knowledge, attitudes, and skills of two successive cohorts of University of Massachusetts third-year medical students. Participating students immediately and significantly improved in each of these areas and fully or partially sustained…

Examines types and frequency of posttreatment contacts among bereaved parents who participated in an experimental support program. Compares those who reported high versus low social support and high versus low numbers of network confidants on selected outcome and coping variables. Number of network confidants did not significantly affect the…