Examined the outcome of a mentoring program aimed at minimizing conduct problems for young adolescent children at risk for delinquent behavior, focusing on 13 mentors, each of whom was responsible for 1 at-risk child for 15 hours per week. Parent reports suggest significant decreases in problem behavior, but there were no significant changes in…

Examines the structure of self-reported problem behaviors in Mainland Chinese children. Findings suggest that among the four factors studied, self-centered behaviors and physical aggression were reported most frequently. Suggests that the single factor conceptualization in which different types of problem behaviors are hypothesized to reflect a…

The effects of food satiation on rumination and a collateral self-stimulatory behavior were examined in three profoundly retarded individuals. For all three individuals, the provision of unlimited quantities of cereal and milk during mealtime resulted in reductions in rumination and decreases in the collateral behaviors. (Author/DB)

Discusses considerations that should be made when one chooses an intervention based on aspects of the student, the situation, and the intervention itself. Considers manipulation that involves reinforcing events and nonpreferred events. (RJC)

The study compared effects of varying sets of instructions on teacher (N=376) and mental health professional (N=178) ratings of student problem behaviors. A statistically significant difference between teachers and mental health workers emerged, though main effects for instructions were not statistically different. Teachers were more consistent in…

Five criteria useful in evaluating any discipline model will help evaluators make sense of a complex issue. Discipline policies should be philosophically sound, pedagogically defensible, psychologically appropriate, pragmatically feasible, and professionally evaluated. (TE)

The performance of 90 learning disabled (LD) children (ages 6-14) on two measures of behavior and attentional skills was examined. As a group, the LD subjects exceeded normative standards on every measure of both scales. However, approximately 30% of the children accounted for the majority of behavioral problems. (Author/DB)

Examined relationship of rejection of social norms and nonconforming behavior to early initiation of sexual intercourse among urban adolescents. Data revealed association between antecedent psychosocial unconventionality and increased risk of earlier transition to nonvirginity. This held even when gender, socioeconomic status, school grade, and…

Four brief observational surveys were used to determine the incidence of drooling by institutionalized individuals with mental retardation. An average of 14% was identified as drooling on any one occasion, with the accumulated proportion of clients reported as drooling as 28%. Sampling of two clients within and across days was also conducted.…

This study reviewed the literature on the clinical features of Asperger Syndrome, a form of autism, looking for evidence that a tendency toward violence is common in individuals with the syndrome. Although many studies were excluded on the basis of inadequate data, findings of remaining studies did not support the speculation that violence is…

This study examined use of benztropine drug therapy to control drooling in 3 children (ages 5, 9, and 12) with moderately severe cerebral palsy. Significant improvement in all three cases suggested a role for medication in the management of drooling in prepubescent children who fail to respond to physical therapy or behavioral programs. (DB)

Notes that Millon's biopsychosocial model asserts that socioenvironmental factors of parental or peer rejection may shape development of avoidant behavior but does not elaborate on how family system may perpetuate its existence once disorder has evolved. Presents brief overview of avoidant behavior and strategic family therapy case study.…

As part of 5-state study of impact of special care units for demented residents, surveyed approximately 2,000 nursing homes to identify facilities that maintained some form of special care unit. Estimated prevalence of such units was 11 percent, suggesting that special care units are far more numerous than had previously been reported. (Author/NB)

Reviews several related literatures on family and personal correlates of adolescent problem behaviors with intention of providing integrative framework to guide future research. Presents model that postulates existence of two negative family types, psychological overcontrol and behavioral undercontrol, that place adolescents at risk for…

Examined how strategies to manage dementia problems in 152 older people were associated with adjustment of family members while providing assistance to relative. Identified three dementia management strategies (criticism, encouragement, and active management) that were associated with three indices of family members' emotional adjustment (burden,…