Children in child welfare are especially likely to have unmet mental health needs. The role of family factors in children's use of mental health services was examined in a longitudinal sample of 1,075 maltreated or at-risk children. Vulnerable family environment (poor family functioning, low social support, and caregiver psychological distress) is…

This study examined the association between ownership of high-risk ("vicious") dogs and the presence of deviant behaviors in the owners as indicated by court convictions. We also explored whether two characteristics of dog ownership (abiding licensing laws and choice of breed) could be useful areas of inquiry when assessing risk status…

We examined factors predicting severity of first offense, adjudication, incarceration, and repeat offenses for first time juvenile offenders. The sample consisted of 12,468 juveniles, all born in 1985. Each of the juveniles had been assigned to the South Carolina Juvenile Justice System (SCDJJ) on at least one occasion ("referral"). Analysis on…

The 43 million Americans with disabilities comprise the largest minority group in the United States. While their special abilities may vary considerably, these Americans share an increased risk for alcohol and other drug abuse. This study concentrates on the deaf community and the general lack of awareness of the problem of substance abuse within…

This study was designed to determine the correlates or potential risk factors which predict whether an adolescent who drinks or uses drugs will refrain from driving under the influence, or will drive in this condition. A group of 426 rural high school seniors completed a questionnaire which assessed drug use patterns and previously identified risk…

Most youth in America have a good chance of becoming productive members of adult society. However, for a particular group of young people, at-risk youth, the probability of maturing into responsible adulthood is less certain. "At-risk youth" is a term commonly used to describe those adolescents for whom there is a high probability (risk)…

High-risk infants may exhibit hearing impairments which can subsequently impede speech/language development. Discussed are prenatal risk factors, including environmental toxins and infections; and perinatal factors such as prematurity, asphyxia, intracranial hemorrhage, bilirubin, ototoxic drugs, and environmental noise. A table summarizes factors…

Behaviors of 66 youth, 8 to 18 years old, with emotional and behavioral disorders that put them at risk for placements outside their homes and/or communities were investigated. Behaviors most predictive of at-risk status were physical aggression, extreme noncompliance, peer interactions, and extreme verbal abuse. (Author/SW)

This review of literature on infant habituation and recognition memory performance as predictors of later IQ concludes that the level of prediction is (1) substantial; (2) higher for at-risk than nonrisk children; and (3) not higher than the level of predictions based on parental education and socioeconomic status. (MDM)

Administration of the Conflict Tactics Scales to 1,997 mothers found that risk factors included the mother's age at time of birth of the abused child, size of family, and minority group status. However, there was not a significant relationship when mother's age was measured at time of abuse. (Author/JDD)

In a random sample of 1,088 men in the Charleston (South Carolina) Heart Study, differences in all-cause or coronary disease mortality rates were not significant for African-American and white males when socioeconomic status was controlled. Socioeconomic status appears to be an important predictor of mortality. (SLD)

Examination of the cases of 24,507 children in Colorado's Child Abuse and Neglect Registry for evidence of revictimization found greater risk for young children, for females, and for physically neglected children. Although greatest risk of revictimization was immediately after the reported incident, the children remained at greater risk of…

This study examined 72 children at risk of abuse and the relevant adults, to identify variables predictive of child abuse risk. The measures used (New York Child Protective Services Review Document, Magura-Moses Child Well-Being Scales, and Beck and Jones List of Problems and Conditions) each had predictive value for case decision making.…

Examined relations between alternative representations of poverty cofactors and promotion processes, and problem behaviors of 6- and 7-year-olds from disadvantaged families. Found that single-index risk representations and promotion variables predicted aggression but not anxiety/depression. An additive model of individual risk indicators performed…

Objective: Several studies with small and ''high risk'' samples have demonstrated that a history of childhood or adolescent sexual abuse (CASA) is associated with sexual risk behaviors (SRBs). However, few studies with large random samples from the general population have specifically examined the relationship between CASA and SRBs with a…