Reasons children underachieve in school are examined: emotional problems, secondary gains, teacher troubles, peer pressure, boredom, fear of trying, and fear of growing up. Guidelines for parents are offered concerning involvement with homework, holding children back, rewards versus bribes, activities that boost self-esteem, and parent…

Discusses ways a counselor can help children and family members deal with a parent's death. Children should be told the truth in a simple, sensitive manner and encouraged to share their feelings and emotions. (JAC)

Discusses the emotional turmoil experienced by a child of divorce and the role of the teacher in providing the child with stability and understanding. (Author/DB)

Discusses emotional difficulties of young children regarding experience in hospitals and presents ways to prevent such problems from occurring. (DB)

The author examines seven myths, such as: divorce is preferable to an unhappy home; children anticipate divorce; turmoil ends with separation; and divorce damages children. She concludes that divorce initiates a prolonged and often difficult transition for children, which may benefit or harm them depending on how parents handle it. (SJL)

Investigated differences among adolescents (N=13,953) living in intact families, one-parent families, and stepparent families. Results indicate that adolescents from one parent and stepparent families reported lower self-esteem, more symptoms of anxiety and loneliness, more depressed mood, more suicidal thoughts, and more suicide attempts than…

A study compared 55 mothers who had been physically abused as children and 46 mothers who had not been, concerning their memories and descriptions of self, parents, babies, and significant others. Mothers who were abused had negative attributes pervading their memories and perceptions. A mother's positive view of self was associated with secure…

Examines the many hypotheses formulated about the possible effects that in vitro fertilization as a method of conception may have on the parent-child relationship and the child's psychosocial development. Discusses potential explanations for the various study findings since the 1990s (including methodological issues) and suggestions for future…

Discusses how adoption disruption affects children adopted from overseas. Uses the experiences of seven children who were counseled for adoption disruption to examine how children can be helped to work through the past and prepare for the future. (TJQ)

A study of 1037 cases of child sexual abuse in Canada found: (1) earlier onset, longer duration, higher level of intrusion, and greater physical and emotional injury for intrafamilial victims; (2) less use of force or enticements by intrafamilial offenders; and (3) more convictions and longer sentences for intrafamilial offenders. (Author/CR)

Seventy-nine high school seniors were administered the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), as well as a questionnaire on parent relationships; peer relationships; positive and negative feelings including suicidal thoughts; and lifestyle variables including academic performance, exercise, and drug use. Results are discussed…

This study attempted to identify emotional problems and examine the related demographic and psychosocial factors of 340 Korean American adolescents in a major metropolitan area. Results revealed that lower GPA, longer length of residence in the United States, subjects' poor self-esteem, greater severity of conflict with parents, and poor…

Behavioural family intervention is an effective form of intervention for the prevention and treatment of a wide range of emotional and behavioural problems in children. There is a growing need to address the accessibility of these services. This paper reviews the literature on self-directed interventions designed to help parents manage difficult…

Objective: To study whether behavioral and emotional problems during childhood predicted early sexual debut, risky sex at age 21 years, and sexually transmitted infections up to age 21 years. Some possible mediational pathways were also explored. Method: Participants were enrolled in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study (n =…