Longitudinal links between perceived racial discrimination and later conduct problems and depressive symptoms were examined among 714 African American adolescents who were 10-12 years old at recruitment. Data were gathered 3 times over a 5-year period. Hypotheses were tested via latent curve modeling and multiple-group latent growth modeling.…

The accuracy of a risk index based on reproductive and demographic factors for predicting subsequent development was tested with 51 full-term and 53 preterm infants. In addition, the possibility that scores on the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment scale might contribute significantly to the prediction of subsequent development…

Older Down's syndrome infants responded to the regular reappearance of a squeaky doll with significantly more affective behavior than did younger Down's syndrome infants. Longitudinal research with the younger infants indicated that the onset of affective behavior significantly correlated with mental development and aspects of temperament.…

Examined the relations between parents' child-rearing style and their older adolescent children's behavior with a sample of 178 college students and their families. Found that students from Nondirective homes had significantly higher SAT scores than students from Authoritarian-Directive and Democratic homes. Students from Unengaged homes had the…

Examined age differences in the use and effectiveness of social support processes emitted during conversations about real life negative events between preadolescent, adolescent, and adult friends. Participants were 86 same-sex friendship dyads. Results indicated that talking to friends alleviated negative affect in all ages, but factors predicting…

Examined the influence of mitigating circumstances on parents' beliefs and intervention behaviors regarding sibling physical aggression. Subjects were 40 Caucasian families. Results indicated that, although parents considered sibling physical aggression to be a serious transgression, they believed that mitigated aggression of both of their…

Examined mothers' total weekly work hours and psychological work involvement in relation to children's achievement behaviors and mothers' parenting. Subjects were 105 middle-class children and their mothers. Results indicated that high numbers of weekly work hours were associated with poorer teacher ratings of children's grades, school work…

Examined the effects of parental stress on adolescent adjustment in independent rural and urban samples of intact families with at least one early adolescent male child. Findings showed that parental stress was related to adjustment through stress-related parental depression that, in turn, correlated with disrupted discipline practices. (MDM)

Used a longitudinal sibling research design and a large, nationally representative sample of 15- to 22-year-old siblings to study shared and unshared environmental influences on delinquency. Although no unshared family environmental influences were found for sisters and mixed-sex siblings, they may have existed for brothers. Data suggested…

Studied sexual activity, substance use, and assault among Black children from first grade through age 17. Adolescents with multiple problems differed from others in behavior and parental supervision. Males who only engaged in sexual activity or who had no problems were similar; but females in the same categories differed in family origins. (BC)

Notes that commentators unanimously support Rothbaum et al.'s general orientation to culture and development and their developmental pathways. Views commentators' suggestions as relating to trade-offs: between theories that highlight generalization or exceptions; between methods that rely on one-, two-, or multiculture studies; and between values…

Examined relationship between social support and appraisal of life events in predicting adaptive, externalizing, and internalizing behavior in 265 seven- to 13-year-olds. Found support for both the main effects and moderator models of the association between life events and global social support. Gender differences were found. Appraisal of life…

Interviewed 224 Lebanese children and adolescents using measures of war exposure, mental health symptoms, adaptational outcomes, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Found that the number of war traumas experienced by the subject was positively related to PTSD symptoms and that various types of war traumas were differentially related to PTSD,…

Tested the hypothesis that home environment positively predicts academic intrinsic motivation from childhood through early adolescence, controlling for socioeconomic status. Found that home environment had statistically positive and significant, direct and indirect paths to academic intrinsic motivation; children whose homes had greater emphasis…