This study examined cultural differences and similarities in socialization during free play and a waiting task among Japanese mothers and their preschoolers temporarily residing in the United States and U.S. mothers and their preschoolers. Findings suggest an emphasis on autonomy among U.S. dyads and an emphasis on relatedness among Japanese…

A two-year study found that children generally watched children's television programs without parents and adult programs with parents. Children's and parents' coviewing of adult programs was predicted by parents' viewing habits. Coviewing declined with age. Parents who encouraged children's viewing, viewed television with their children more than…

Significantly more negative functioning was observed during marital and parent-child interactions for parents of mentally retarded school-aged children than for parents of typically developing children. For both groups, marital quality, the parenting partnership, and child behavior accounted for up to 53 percent of the variance in parenting…

Examined the concordance between mother-infant attachment behavior and patterns of mother-child reunion responses when the children were age six. Found that concordance between four types of attachment status was 82%. Also found a correlation between children's observed social competence at age five and their reunion patterns at age six. (MDM)

Examined parents' role in the development of their children's moral reasoning. Differences in interaction style in discussions of hypothetical and of real-life dilemmas were found. Children's moral development was best predicted by a parental discussion style involving supportive interactions and the presentation of higher level moral reasoning.…

Two studies investigated the relationship between emotion socialization variables, social cognitive knowledge, and children's social competence in preschoolers from low-income families. Found that mothers' self-reported emotion socialization practices were related to children's emotional knowledge and sibling caregiving behavior. (MDM)

Examined relationship between mother-child conversational interactions when children were 30, 36, and 42 months old and children's recall of these activities 1 day and 3 weeks later. Found that at all ages, features of activities jointly handled and jointly discussed were remembered better than features jointly handled but discussed by mother only…

Investigated the extent to which family environment predicted differences in trajectories of adaptive development in young children with Down syndrome. Found that growth in communication, daily living skills, and socialization domains were predicted by family cohesion and mother/child interaction beyond that predicted by maternal education. Bailey…

Examined effects of SES components for divorced/recently separated mothers of 6- to 9-year-old sons. Found that SES indicators were associated with better parenting. Parenting indirectly affected achievement through home skill building and school behavior. Maternal education direct effect was mediated by home skill building. Maternal occupation…

Examines whether there are sex differences during middle childhood in children's choices to participate in activities differing in level of adult-provided structure; effects of structure on children's compliance, leadership, and recognition seeking directed to adults and to peers; and relation of sex-typed social skills or dispositions and…

Evaluates a comprehensive intervention program for deaf children under age three in Vancouver, British Columbia. Twelve subjects were compared with a matched sample of children undergoing less-systematic intervention. Results indicated more developmentally mature communication and higher quality interaction in families who had received…

Scores on the Home Observation for Measurement of Environment (HOME), designed to reflect parental support of early cognitive and social development, were correlated with elementary school achievement five to nine years later. Results supported the predictive value of the instrument for school achievement among low-income families. (Author/DB)

This study investigated how stressful environmental conditions influence the relation between mothers' social support and parenting strategies among poor, African American single mothers and their young adolescent children. Findings indicated that as neighborhood conditions worsened, the positive relation between emotional support and mothers'…

Examined relations between patterns of marital communication, child adjustment, and family functioning. Subjects were couples observed to be hostile, hostile- withdrawn, or engaged, and having a 4- or 5-year-old child. Found that families in which couples were hostile-detached showed the most negative outcomes. Marital typology accounted for…

Discusses results of a longitudinal study of effects of divorce and remarriage on children's adjustment. Results suggest that individual characteristics play an important role in either protecting children from negative consequences associated with their parents' marital transitions or in making children vulnerable to such consequences. (RJC)