Reviews literature on parental bereavement over the family life course, drawing attention to meaning of the loss. Review is organized according to untimeliness of the death; nature and quality of lost relationship; role the deceased played; characteristics of the death; and the social support system. Considers role of family developmental…

The Bruderhof communities in the United States have organized their own private schools with a distinctly Christian philosophy of education, adding to the interesting mix of American private and religious schools. Rooted in early 20th century German pedagogy, romanticism, and shared responsibility, Bruderhof schools represent the essence of a…

What distinguishes adolescents who are active in community and political life from those who are not? In an attempt to answer this question, students in their last years of secondary school completed a measure of community and political activities, along with measures of parent and peer interactions, identity development, and adjustment. Cluster…

This paper examines the diversity of experiences associated with grandparenting, as well as identifying factors that contribute to this diversity. The focus is grandparents in Canada, but international research is included as well. Following a list of highlights and an introduction, the paper addresses: (1) the demographic context of…

Young children are being fast tracked at early age because of pressures from parents, schools, society, and media. One result is troubled teenagers who experience stress of these pressures without having adult means to cope with them. Time spent with parents and in play activities are activities that help children to gain security, happiness, and…

Reports findings from a survey completed by 105 Canadian families with adopted children from Romania. Results reflect the parents' perceptions of the adoption experience, the condition of the child on adoption, the parents' subsequent developmental concerns, and the children's progress. Parents' perceived needs and concerns are reported, and…

Developed and tested model of how mothers' (n=147) interrole conflict and satisfaction with role of employed mother affected children's behavior. Found relationship between maternal employment role experiences and children's behavior was mediated by personal strain and parenting behavior. (Author/ABL)

Reviews literature on attachment process between adopted children and their mothers. Explains empirical research in relation to Bowlby's theoretical formulation of attachment, basic thesis of which is that infants develop affectional bonds at specific ages of their development and, therefore, child's age at time of adoption is important…

Examined how fathers (n=32) of young children shaped fatherhood roles according to models in their lives. Respondents' own fathers were not seen as good role models. Fathers tended not to model behavior after particular individual but to select particular behaviors to incorporate into their roles. Subjects placed emphasis on providing role model…

Examined peer abuse as sociocultural phenomenon. Two cohorts (1974 and 1989) of 90 undergraduate students each wrote recollections of what had made them most unhappy at four stages in their lives. Found far more negative peer treatment than negative parental treatment. Results were even more salient for 1989 cohort than for 1974 cohort. (Author/NB)

This study purports that parental rejection and warmth are critical to the development of adolescent drug use, and investigates a model that also considers children's vulnerability and deviant peer affiliations. It tests mediation through the proximal risk factor of deviant peers. Poisson growth curve modeling was used to examine participants from…

Describes one model for an integrated, multi-agency program for adolescent mothers and their children. Each of the four agencies involved provides financial support and is responsible for one component of the program. Factors important in its success include a wide base of support, on-site services, established mechanisms for integration, and…

This longitudinal study investigated the relation between mood, attitudes, and behaviors in a middle-income sample of first-time mothers. (PCB)

Reports a study of the ways young children view television. The more common style involves uncritical absorption which seems debilitating to the child, while the other style provides the viewer with skills for discovering meaning within the program and beyond. Suggestions are given for parents to encourage the more critical style of watching.…

Premature infants vocalized less, played less, and were more fretful than full-term infants of the same chronological age, although they looked at objects and looked around their environment more. Mothers of premature infants demonstrated more caretaking and affectionate behavior toward their infants. Between-group differences decreased as age…