Over 1,000 black, white, and Spanish, moderately disadvantaged and affluent children from Grades 2, 4, and 6 were given the Gruen, Korte, Stephens Internal-External Scale. Results are discussed in terms of ethnic, socioeconomic and sex differences, and score relation to grade point average.

Structural aspects of school-based peer networks of adolescents in grades 6 through 12 were mapped in 3 school systems in a major Midwestern city. The results indicated that female students were more connected to their peer network than were male students, and that peer networks became more exclusive with increasing grade. (MDM)

Investigated implications of body-fat differences for dating and sexual activity and implications of heterosexual activity for dieting and weight concerns in adolescent girls. Found that among white girls, and blacks with college-educated mothers, more body fat was associated with lower dating probability, even among non-obese girls. Body fat was…

This study investigated prospective risk factors for increases in body dissatisfaction in adolescent girls and boys in the Eating Among Teens Project. At the time of first assessment (Time 1), participants were a cohort of early adolescent girls (N = 440) and boys (N = 366) and a cohort of middle adolescent girls (N = 946) and boys (N = 764).…

European- and African-American mothers reported their use of physical discipline with their children. Mothers, teachers, and peers rated the children's externalizing problems annually from kindergarten through grade 3. Found that physical discipline was associated with higher teacher- and peer-rated externalizing scores for European-American…

Examined developmental trajectories toward violence over middle childhood and children's response to a universal school-based preventive intervention. Found that three growth patterns--positive linear, late acceleration, and gradual deceleration--characterized the children's trajectories, and these trajectories varied meaningfully by child…

Examined autonomy and individuation levels within financial, residential, romantic, and family formation domains among 17- to 27-year-olds in a community-based longitudinal study. Found that subgroup differences related to family socioeconomic status, parental divorce, gender, or race were not generally attributable to educational enrollment. Both…

Examined subtypes of "popular" among 452 fourth- through sixth-grade boys. Found that peers perceived popular-prosocial boys as cool, athletic, leaders, cooperative, studious, not shy, and nonaggressive. They perceived popular-antisocial boys as cool, athletic, and antisocial. Findings suggested that highly aggressive boys can be among…

Studied after-school activities of third graders for two years. Found that children attending after-school programs spent more time on academic and extracurricular activities; children in informal care spent more time watching television and "hanging out." Sex differences were reported in the type of activities. Time spent in activities was…