The present study was designed to examine early adolescents' stereotypical descriptions of two types of youth who are seen as popular by their peers. Participants were 13- to 14-year-old early adolescents (N = 287). The results indicated that early adolescents distinguished two types of popular peers: a "populistic" (popular but not…

Researchers have been interested in studying the correlates and reciprocity of peer acceptance across various cultures. Tenth grade students in a Saudi Arabian suburban high school completed social desirability scales to examine the relationship between the acceptance of class members by individual students and the acceptance of individual…

This study examined loneliness and sense of coherence among 187 preschool children in Israel, of which 111 were at high risk for developing learning disabilities. The high risk children demonstrated higher levels of loneliness and lower levels of coherence than the control group. The high risk children also were less accepted by nondisabled peers.…

Although children with learning disabilities are often considered to be a heterogeneous group, they are always situated in specific social surroundings such as schools and families with which they interact dynamically in everyday life. Therefore, peer acceptance and family functioning may be related to the loneliness experienced by children with…

The purpose of this study was to enhance our knowledge of what it is like to grow up with a disability, specifically, with focus on how adolescents with restricted mobility perceive social roles and relationships to peers and adults. The group investigated consisted of 12 adolescents with restricted mobility from northern Sweden, aged from 15 to…

What do adolescents find meaningful in their exposure to spiritual education organised by religious or spiritual institutions? A qualitative study of adolescents participating in summer school events organised by the Religious Society of Friends and Sahaj Marg meditation system was carried out and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological…

The study of peers who dislike one another, termed mutual antipathies, is being recognized as an important aspect of a child's social world. An overview of this area and a review of the literature concerning mutual antipathies is provided. Particularly of interest is the type of mutual antipathy known as an "enemy" relationship, and…

Research evidence from several educational systems indicates that students with developmental disabilities who exhibit challenging behaviors are in the bottom of the agenda as candidates for inclusion. The present investigation of the perspectives of 85 Greek teachers in primary education indicates that they are in need of training that it will…

Classroom ideas and resource information for teachers in the areas of visual, hearing, and mobility impairments; developmental handicaps; and mental illness are presented. For each disability three topics of discussion are introduced to help the student understand individuals who have the disability. The first discussion area deals with the…

The study compared the adjustment to regular classes (in New Zealand) of eight 6- and 7-year-old children with Down Syndrome (DS) with that of 24 children rated by their eight teachers as being the "three least competent children in the class." The study evaluated teacher attitudes, social participation on the playground, and…

Traditional Chinese personality characteristics such as inner harmony, concern for others, submissiveness to authority, and respect for learning so pervade Chinese biographies that they constitute cultural themes. In order to determine whether such themes are more evident in Chinese than in Western youth, a cross-cultural study of self-concept was…

Presents research data on the social integration of visually handicapped students in Quebec's regular schools. Notes that the social acceptance of visually handicapped students, as measured by sociometric status, was significantly less than that of children without visual problems, regardless of age. Emphasizes the need for further research. (SB)

Noting that although many Western educators praise the Japanese educational system because of its students' academic achievements, schools in Japan have developed severe and prevalent problems with student bullying. This paper examines the problem of bullying in Japanese schools. Part 1 of the paper reviews bullying incidents in Japanese schools…

The Interpersonal Relationship Assessment Technique was developed and the relationship between academic tracking and degree of cross-ethnic acceptance in integrated homeroom classes was examined. Among 2,323 Israeli junior high students, the degree of cross-ethnic acceptance was positively related to the academic status of evaluated classmates.…