A sleep questionnaire was administered to 80 Mexican American and 80 Anglo elderly, ages 60 to 96. The Mexican American sample reported poorer quality and longer latency of sleep, greater negative affect concerning dreams, longer sleep duration, less dream recall, more regular sleep, and more positive valence towards sleep. (JHZ)

Explored applications of the social exchange perspective of relationship satisfaction to educational and therapeutic interventions with those involved in close personal relationships, focusing on the role relationship expectations play in evaluations people make of their relationships. Explored educational implications of data contrasting…

A study of 34 lesbian women in an informal helping network in a rural community found that nearly half were uninvolved in heterosexual social networks. For help with personal problems, respondents turned to other lesbian women and nongay friends who knew of their affectional status. (JHZ)

Results of a campus study of (1) the relationship between students' perceived stress level and two possible support indicators (marital status and living arrangement), (2) sex differences in this relationship, and (3) the effect of marital status and gender on students' preferences for support services are reported. (MSE)

Health-promotion programs provided for higher education staff are increasing. They draw on the expertise of physical education and athletic staff, counseling services, and medical centers to encourage employees to adopt lifetime regimens of healthy living. (MSE)

Reported four new studies as continuations in a program designed to increase personal happiness using 14 characteristics incorporated into a course of study for community college students. Collected findings indicated that the program is effective as a tool for short-term happiness enhancement with evidence suggesting long-term gains. (LLL)

This report describes the psychometric characteristics and related methodology of the 9-month data collection of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B), which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the Institute of Education Sciences, in collaboration with several…

This 15th annual "KIDS COUNT Data Book" examines the issues surrounding America's most at-risk young adults. It examines who they are, why it is so critical that they receive help, and what they need to succeed. Just as important, it outlines a number of ways the path of their lives can be altered thus increasing the odds that they too,…

Asserting that the welfare reform proposals of the mid-1990s drew attention to the problem of domestic violence among individuals receiving public assistance who are among the poorest of the poor, this report examines what is known from past research on domestic violence that may inform policies related to marriage and child well-being. In…

The controversies in adoption have extended across a spectrum of policy and practice issues, and although the issues have become clear, resolution has not been achieved nor has consensus developed regarding a framework on which to improve the quality of adoption policy and practice. This book is the fourth in a series to use an ethics-based…

Papers compiled in this sixth annual conference collection deal with views and theories on children's rights and provide extensive information on background, motivation, strategies, and main trends in the field of children's rights. Following the welcome addresses to the conference, the 43 papers cover a variety of relevant topics, including: (1)…

As part of a series of reports designed to support the implementation of Proposition 10: The California Children and Families Act and to provide comprehensive and authoritative information on critical issues concerning young children and families in California, this report addresses how Proposition 10 Commissions can organize their work and their…

Resilience is a universal capacity that allows a child to prevent, minimize, or overcome the damaging effects of adversity. The construct of resiliency, the combination of protective factors that result in resilience, was addressed by the International Resilience Project (IRP), which set out to explore what parents, caregivers, teachers or…

The number of children in working poor families is expected to increase as a result of welfare reform. This report summarizes the discussion of scholars, policy experts, and leaders of the Foundation for Child Development regarding research and policy on children in families headed by adults working in low-wage jobs. Key findings regarding…

During the past decades, studies have begun to look at individual differences within groups of minority children, and at the psychological impact of discrimination, oppression, and political violence on their lives. This paper presents conditions that facilitate the well-being of minority children around the world and that seem to transcend…