This study compared the body mass index (BMI) of 118 children with infantile autism with corresponding BMI percentiles in age-and sex-matched reference populations. The BMI distribution of the male children was significantly lower than that of the age-matched reference population. BMI was not associated with intelligence or socioeconomic status.…

A model for treatment foster care is described, and data are presented on disruption rates. The likelihood of placement disruption for 90 participants (ages 2-16) was two times higher during the first 6 months than the second 6 months. Twenty-three experienced placement disruption, with older girls at the greatest risk. (Contains references.)…

Background: Many previous studies have reported that mothers of children with intellectual disabilities (IDs) are more likely to show signs of psychological distress and have lower well-being than mothers of "typically developing" children. Our aim was to estimate the extent to which these differences may be accounted for by…

This chartbook presents, in graphic and textual formats, statistical data on disabilities in the U.S., gathered from available national survey and program data. Each page contains a topic question, a brief explanatory text (using data from the original source), an explanatory graphic, identification of the source of the information, and…

This paper reviews recent empirical and conceptual studies pertaining to stress in childhood and offers an integrative, cognitive-developmental theory for understanding childhood stress and coping. The theory builds upon Hunt's (1979) view of the epigenesis of intrinsic motivation and Block's (1982) formulation of assimilation and accommodation…

In order to evaluate how individual characteristics of hospitalized children influence their acquisition of information presented in a film depicting preparation for surgery, 42 children between the ages of 4 to 17 were assigned to experimental and control groups that were matched for age, sex, race, type of surgery and previous hospital…

A study involving eight boys with autism and eight boys with Down syndrome (ages 6-10) with similar adaptive behavior levels used an ecological approach to study the in-depth structure of the behavior stream. Narrative records were collected and analyzed based on duration and frequency of behaviors. Each record was analyzed by marking the behavior…

Two lessons illustrate the human dimension of Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt, showing them both as fathers through an account of Willie Lincoln's death and portions of Roosevelt's letters to his children. (CK)

This study reports behavioral and cognitive stability and change in 76 children with autistic spectrum disorders, evaluated at ages 7 and 11. Verbal IQ, performance IQ, severity of autistic characteristics, and social characteristics were analyzed. The study found that IQ and more severe expression of autistic symptoms were very stable. (CR)

This study examined the moderating effects of peer social avoidance on responses of six autistic children to an inclusive classroom treatment model. Peer social avoidance (but not mental age or language level) predicted variations in outcomes for subsequent peer avoidance and language use. Results have implications for matching child…

Using 20 years of longitudinal data on nearly 900 children aged 0 to 6 in 1968 (19 to 25 in 1987) from the University of Michigan's Panel Study of Income Dynamics, the authors measure the influence of family background, individual characteristics, economic resources (or the lack thereof), and the experience of particular disruptive family events…

This report contains data on the annual earnings of husbands and wives and their combined earnings as married couples. A narrative summarizing findings precedes each group of related charts and tables. Figures 1A through 1C and tables 1A through 1D classify the earnings of married couples, husbands, and wives by weeks of work and…

The terminology and identification phase of a project on minimal brain dysfunction in children is described. Two subsequent phases are to deal with services and research. Included in the first phase are the following: an introduction to the problem, history and blueprint of the project, a brief history of the concept of minimal brain dysfunction,…

Data from eight countries were analyzed to explore hypotheses about cross-cultural differences in childrearing patterns. Particular attention is given to LeVine's and Kohn's theories, and Hoffman and Hoffman's new theory that contends that children satisfy certain parental needs and that the satisfaction of specific needs affects parents'…

This study examined specific behavioral characteristics of children in four different treatment environments by an Ohio child mental health agency, in order to shed light on placement decisions in relation to levels of care and severity of symptoms. Data were collected from approximately 300 total program admissions above age 5, each quarter, for…