A three-phase, longitudinal study at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., of family problems with prolonged father absence indicates that there is (1) continuing family growth beyond the situational crisis, (2) active re-examination of roles and values, and (3) heightened awareness of family strength and resourcefulness during the…

To investigate vulnerability to psychological and emotional stress among chronically ill children, a battery of personality tests was selectively administered to 144 children (5- to 19-years-old) afflicted with one of the following conditions: diabetes, asthma, cystic fibrosis, or hearing impairment. Analyses centered on comparisons of norms…

Documents 168 children's perceptions of their involvement with self-development, family members, and members of the community and tests the relation between that network and aspects of social-emotional functioning during middle childhood. (HOD)

A cross-age tutoring program designed to improve school performance of tutors (adolescents classified as emotionally disturbed) and tutees (children classified as educable mentally retarded) was replicated in an urban public school district. Results showed that both tutors and tutees improved on academic and social measures of school performance.…

Focusing on the social and emotional characteristics of gifted students in general, and underachievers in particular, the sixteen articles in this ready-reference also provide an introduction to appropriate counseling methods for the gifted. Key features include: (1) Expert Sidney M. Moon's comprehensive analysis of some of the most influential…

Evaluated effectiveness of 16-week intervention for 52 second- and third-grade children of divorce. Participants were compared with 52 divorce controls and 81 children from intact families on child, parent, and teacher measures of adjustment. Experimental group improved significantly more than nonprogram groups from multiple perspectives,…

Presents an overview of the research literature concerning the significance of adolescent friendship. Topics addressed are (1) the ubiquity of friendships; (2) friendship stability; (3) conditions of friendship, such as reciprocity, commitment, and equality; (4) similarities among friends; and (5) social and emotional development fostered by…

Describes and reviews the work of researchers who have operationalized the construct of friendship and the theoretical basis for the association between friendship experiences and children's level of psychological adjustment. Details study of how various levels of friendship constructs relate to one another and to children's loneliness and…

Examined adjustment problems from late childhood to early adulthood among 500 Swedish girls. Found a diversified pattern of multisyndrome formation in late childhood. The syndrome structure in early adolescence identified externalizing adjustment problems and peer problems. An externalizing syndrome was stable between late childhood and early…

Self-care children were compared with control children in adult care to investigate whether self-care (latchkey) arrangements have negative consequences for children. On several measures of children's social and psychological functioning, no significant differences were found between two matched samples. (Author/DST)

Four types of peer victimizations (physical, direct verbal, indirect verbal, and general) were assessed using a sample of 200 kindergartners. Peer victimization was reported by a large percentage of children, with female and males being equally at risk. Victimized children were compared to nonvictimized children on several social and academic…

Surveyed state special education directors in 50 states and District of Columbia regarding social maladjustment exclusionary clause in federal definition of serious emotional disturbance (SED). Thirty-four states included social maladjustment clause or some form of exclusion in SED definition. Found no significant relationship between presence of…

This article focuses on the social analysis of communication activities and the functioning of individuals with mild to moderate mental retardation. It provides an examination across the lifespan, from children to aging adults, addressing individuals' adaptations to society's communication demands, quality of life, social growth, and communication…

A study involving 254 children (ages 3 to 17) investigated how children referred to the East Baltimore Mental Health Partnership (EBMHP) from a traditional mental health center differed from children referred by non-mental health agencies. Children differed in terms of their sociodemographic characteristics and psychosocial adjustment depending on…

Assessed the possible confounding of preadolescents' temperament as a predictor of psychological adjustment, using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and expert ratings. CFAs demonstrated that temperament could be reliably measured after eliminating overlapping items. Negative emotionality and impulsivity were negatively related to symptom…