This report summarizes the latest available statistics on international progress on children's well-being. Each of the report's sections contains a commentary, related statistics, and a discussion on progress and disparity in the section's particular area. Following a foreword by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi A. Annan, the sections of the…

Survey of 1,121 adolescent females, including 303 who reported being sexually assaulted, found that White females were twice as likely as Mexican Americans to have reported sexual assault. Compared to nonvictims, sexual assault victims reported more emotional distress, social isolation, and deviant behavior; poorer school adjustment; and greater…

Assesses the extent to which children can be taught to increase the frequency of good things in their day and to be more aware of these highlights. A study of 39 students who participated in a positive perspectives intervention program showed both an increased awareness of highlights and positive feelings. (RJM)

Explores the extent of Navajos' bond with their homeland. The land is critical to the Navajo world view, which emphasizes harmony and orderly conditions, and plays an essential role in myths and ceremonies. When Navajos leave their homeland to pursue educational or professional endeavors, emotional distress can undermine their success. Includes…

Fourteen at-risk gifted adolescents participated in a 4-year qualitative study focusing on gaining autonomy, becoming differentiated, establishing career direction, and developing a mature relationship. Resolving conflict with parents generated the largest portion of narrative data. After four years, participants had resolved conflicts, felt…

Reviews literature on worksite fitness and health promotion programs. Examines their impact on employees and the sponsoring organization. Discusses beneficial effects such as increased fitness, and reduction in health care costs, risk factors of heart disease, absenteeism, and turnover. Addresses issues related to participation rates, program…

Examined differential treatment of siblings in families with a disabled child and other families. Assessed connections between differential treatment, both children's adjustment, and sibling relationships. Results revealed greater levels of differential treatment in families with disabled children but no context differences in the correlations…

Case histories from the Berkeley Guidance cohort--the Depression experience of middle and working class women and the military experience of their sons--demonstrated that (1) economic adversity enhanced middle class resilience and health while negatively affecting working class women's health and (2) military service gave men of deprived…

Describes the Health Education and Lifestyle Promotion (H.E.L.P.) program, Missouri University's employee wellness model. H.E.L.P. utilizes a carefully structured, comprehensive package approach. Its success stems from networking existing campus resources and personnel and creating effective program design, implementation, and evaluation. The…

Physical and medical correlates of mathematical giftedness were studied in gifted (497 males and 508 females) and environmentally privileged (high socioeconomic status) (647 males and 485 females) tenth graders. Medical and physical well-being appears more highly associated with mathematical giftedness than with socioeconomic privileges. (SLD)

Describes various approaches taken by Italian child-care programs to facilitate the young child's transition into a child care setting. Discusses the role of teachers as researchers, the role of parents as partners, and the benefits to young children. (KB)

Examined academic and social defensive pessimism and optimism strategies and adolescents' future orientation in the domains of education and military service. Found that academic strategies were significantly linked to prospective education components and social strategies to military service components. Found that investment in prospective…

Explores why mental health has been a contested issue in Head Start and describes recent efforts to bring mental health closer to the center of the program agenda. Describes areas of challenge and innovation that might further the program goal of improving the well-being of parents and children in poverty. Concludes with recommendations for…

Investigated effects of acculturation on psychological well-being of 588 immigrant 11- to 20-year-olds in Finland. Found that most indices of well-being were negatively related to perceived discrimination, and some were positively related to second-language proficiency. Adolescents' experiences of parental support and adherence to traditional…

Examines the role of social support in mitigating caregiving stress among two groups of parental caregivers (N=361). Results indicate that although mothers of adults with mental illness had smaller social support networks than mothers of adults with mental retardation, the former were more likely to be members of support groups. (RJM)