Results indicate that the achievement level of Black and Hispanic elementary school children is not substantially lower than that of White children of similar socioeconomic status. Beliefs of minority children and their mothers are similar to those typically associated with higher levels of achievement. (PCB)

Interviewed second through sixth graders to assess parameters of worry. Found that girls reported more worries than boys, and African American students reported more worries than white or Hispanic students. The three most commonly reported areas of worry were school, health, and personal harm. Anxiety was significantly associated with worry. (BC)

Peer interaction, social status, and reciprocated friendships in two ethnically diverse groups of elementary school children were examined. (PCB)

Assesses the effects of gestational age, race, and sex on neurobehavorial responses of 510 singleton infants who were evaluated at term conceptual age using a modified Prechtl Neurologic Examination. Results suggest that gestational age at birth is the most influential variable; race is also important, but gender has minimum impact. (Author/CB)

Briefly describes types of studies included in this special issue on minority children. Discusses issues in research on minority children and ways in which this research can be encouraged. (PCB)

Examined the self-understanding and moral judgment of 15 African American and Hispanic American adolescents nominated by community leaders for their exemplary caring behavior. These "care exemplars" were more likely than comparison adolescents to describe themselves in terms of moral personality traits and goals and to view themselves as…

Examined National Longitudinal Survey of Youth data on four versions of HOME-Short Form for four major ethnic groups. Found differences for majority of items between poor and non-poor families. Magnitude of effect for poverty was greater than for ethnicity. For every item at every age, effects of poverty were proportional across European American,…

Introduces the special issue on minority children and briefly discusses what it means to be a member of a minority group in the United States. (PCB)

Presents a synthesis and overview of literature on identity development in the childhood and adolescence of young people in ethnic and minority groups in the United States. (PCB)

Discusses a proposed interconnectedness between the ecologies of ethnic minority families, adaptive strategies, socialization goals, and child development outcomes. (PCB)

Investigated whether three types of family decision making on adolescent adjustment were moderated by ethnicity and/or community. Found that, for joint and unilateral youth decision making, community context interacted with ethnicity in three patterns of influence, refuting the notion that ethnic differences in the influence of parental strictness…

Evaluated a family economic stress model that links economic well-being to child well-being among African American and Hispanic children from low-income families, mostly headed by single mothers. Found that lower economic well-being adversely impacted parent's psychological well-being; these parents felt less effective in disciplinary interactions…

Examined effects of normative school transition during early adolescence on self-esteem and perceived school and peer social contexts. Subjects were 580 black, white, and Latino youth from low-income families. Found that the transition from elementary to middle or junior high schools led to declines in self-esteem, class preparation, and grade…

Considers effects of culture, health status, socioeconomic status, family structure, and biological factors on minority infants' development. (PCB)

Eight help-seeking categories were identified and compared with regard to adolescents' gender, race, alcohol consumption, substance abuse, and school misconduct. Problem behaviors were most prevalent for two categories: friends as only resource and social isolate. Males, Blacks, and Hispanics were overrepresented in the social isolate category.…