College psychology students rated 18 books on children's fears according to their potential impact on children's socioemotional growth. During a training program, they coded the books based on story grammar and specific categories of children's fears. Students then rerated the stories. Interrater reliability increased significantly from initial to…

Adopted a structural perspective in examining life events in the context of an individual's life story. Ten men and 10 women at each of 3 age groups identified personally significant life events from their past and anticipated future. Women identified more life events and reported a younger age corresponding to their first event than men.…

Two studies tested the prediction that prior experience with a need increases empathy for those experiencing that need. In study 1, subjects (n=48) reported feelings of empathy after observing a same-sex peer endure mild electric shocks. In study 2, subjects (n=88) reported feelings of empathy after reading a transcript describing a same-sex…

Discusses influence of mothers' transitional behaviors on their infants' and toddlers' transitions to out-of-home care, emphasizing how caregivers can support mothers. Addresses three concerns mothers have in placing children in day care: the view that a mother's place is at home, the issue of trusting the caregiver, and the cost of high-quality…

This article presents data showing that two of the four forms of neuroplasticity, homologous area adaptation and map extension, are relevant to recovery from aphasia. It discusses factors related to neuroplastic activity during language recovery, including neurophysiological, subject, and environmental treatment variables. (Contains references.)…

In this article, a women with autism discusses the gifts, enrichments, and inner strength of her autistic personality. Her experiences growing up and being tormented by peers are described, along with her realization that being "weird" is better than being "normal". (Contains one reference.) (CR)

Reviews data collected by the Oxford Monitoring System for Attempted Suicide in teenagers between 1985-1995 to determine trends in acts of deliberate self-harm. Notes substantial increase in number of episodes of deliberate self-harm for both males and females. Discusses implications for hospital and counseling professionals and well as…

A study interviewed 28 Vietnamese refugee families in St. Louis (Missouri) to determine difficulties in adjusting to the United States and to assess the prevalence of child abuse among this population. Findings were inconsistent and suggested that common methods of identifying child abuse may not be valid among populations reluctant to admit to…

Parental stress was examined in socioeconomically matched mothers and fathers of children with Down syndrome (n=41) and typical children (n=58). Parents of children with Down syndrome perceived more caregiving difficulties, child-related stress (distractibility, demanding or unacceptable behavior), and parent-related stress (incompetence,…

The resilience that individuals who have learning disabilities can demonstrate is highlighted through a case study. Examples from a student's description of his school history illuminate resilience themes. The article culminates in a list of things teachers can do to instill resilience in their students. (Author/CR)

A study examined the coping mechanisms of 20 Lebanese students at the American University of Beirut during the war in Lebanon in 1975-91. Results indicate the group perceived their experiences as relatively normal. The nature of and exposure to war, personal variables, and the supportive role of family and community were critical in helping the…

Demands for change are pervasive in educational practice, and while they must be acknowledged, teachers also need to maintain a sense of stability. This can be accomplished by developing a professional conscience composed of five facets (as proposed by Thomas Green): craft, membership, sacrifice, memory, and imagination. Implications for teacher…

Two award-winning Canadian educational researchers describe how the goals of standards-based reform can be met without getting bogged down in overstandardization, under-resourcing, deprofessionalization, and curricular narrowness. The sense of urgency driving educational change needs to be accompanied by a sense of agency and energy in teachers so…

Investigated the personality traits of Greek mothers of children with special needs, examining whether participation in parent support groups and sharing the care of the child with others would affect self-esteem, coping, and depression. Overall, mothers who received social support and help with care of the child had increased self-esteem,…

A study of 26 mothers and 20 fathers of children with autism found self-efficacy mediated the effect of child behavior problems on mothers' anxiety and depression, but not for fathers. However, there was evidence that self-efficacy moderated the effect of child behavior problems on fathers' anxiety. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)