Examines predictors of early sexual intercourse for a sample of 457 adolescents in grades 8 through 10, from two-parent and single-mother families. Significant decreases were noted in the effect of mother monitoring by 10th grade. The primary predictors of early intercourse were age, opportunity (steady relationship), sexually permissive attitude,…

Data from 77 ninth-grade Spanish students who took an objective test, a performance assessment, and a measure of perceptions of control indicate that control perceptions predict scores on performance assessments, not objective tests. Performance assessments thus reflect motivational variables beyond the constructs being tested. (SK)

Examined the mix of educational, health, and psychosocial services received by 869 five-year-olds participating in the Infant Health and Development Program. Found that neonatal health conditions, maternal education at child's birth, child developmental status at age 3, and maternal health, family income, and insurance status at age 5 were…

Follow-up study investigates the effects of retention on school achievement, perceived school competence, and delinquency. The strongest predictors of retention were early school performance, gender, parental participation in school, and the number of school moves. Findings suggest that intervention approaches other than grade retention are needed…

Examines verbal and physical intimidation and physical violence in high school athletics by program and sport. Antecedents were identified via principal component analysis, including contextual setting, attitude, pressure, and coaching. Coaching was the only significant overall predictor and only significant predictor of verbal intimidation in…

This study examined the relationships between multiple family and child factors and amount and type of parent participation in school activities for 35 families of children ages seven and eight with developmental delays. Informational resources and school characteristics related most strongly to variations in parent participation. (Author/DB)

Attempts to predict undergraduate students' achievement in a world music survey using six selected variables. Reports that 46% of the grade variation could be explained by linear association with the predictors. Shows that skills required for success in non-western music do not differ from those required for other academic disciplines. (DSK)

A study involving 27,908 children (age 10) found that children with very low birth weight born to mothers with low maternal education are at high risk of receiving special education services; however, the largest percentage of children receiving special education had the single risk factor of low maternal education. (Author/CR)

A study of 135 Chinese mothers of children with mental retardation found higher levels of belief on the Confucian Doctrine Scales was associated with lower level of maternal stress. Lower-functioning children were associated with higher levels of stress, as well as perceptions of neighbors' negative attitudes toward their child. (Author/CR)

The contributions of peer acceptance, friendship, social status, and age relative to mixed-age classmates to children's' attitudes toward school and to achievement in ungraded primary school were studied with 323 ungraded elementary school students. Attitudes toward school were positively related to achievement scores. Predictive variables are…

Describes nature of first-grade transition and studies investigating how children's schooling proceeds over this period. Highlights study using Beginning School Study data to examine effects of full-day rather than half-day kindergarten, living in different family arrangements, and other circumstances such as Head Start participation. Found that…

A comparison of 33 Australian adolescents with Down syndrome who did not receive early intervention services and 41 adolescents with Down syndrome who had received early intervention services found no significant difference between the two cohorts in cognitive functioning. Socioeconomic status, mothers' education, and gender were predictors of…

Investigates the usefulness of 50 variables in predicting the academic performance of 86 students readmitted to Bronx Community College following academic suspension. Principal conclusions are that specific academic skills are important, past academic record is unimportant, and a general factor called incentive is important in the attainment of…

Two-cohorts of Grade 1 English as a Second Language (ESL) (n=200) and English as a First Language (EL1) (n=70) children were followed for two years. By considering differences in phonological awareness and rapid naming, it was possible to predict variance on word recognition performance six months and one year later. (Contains references.)…

A study examined self-definition in 11 adolescents with and without disabilities. Variation depended on sense of self, vision of the future, and access and use of supports to cope with difficulties as they prepared to graduate. Students with disabilities were most likely to have low self-definition and experience high struggle. (Contains…