Verbal aggression (VA) is among the most prevalent forms of problem behavior in schools with detrimental effects for both perpetrators and victims, yet little is known about VA among students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). Accordingly, we surveyed 279 teachers of students with behavioral disorders to examine the prevalence,…

Expressing sexuality is part of the human experience, yet sexual health is often ignored in regard to persons with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities are at risk of sexual abuse and exploitation, unwanted pregnancies, and sexually transmitted diseases. Additionally, many adolescents with disabilities lack the knowledge needed to develop a…

Aggression by students is a highly stable behavior and is a significant predictor for later aggression along with other undesirable outcomes for both the aggressor and victim. While aggression is often thought of in its physical form, acts of verbal aggression are equally problematic and can be especially complex for students who are identified…

Results from state and national surveys suggest that behaviors such as cursing at others, verbal threats, and intimidation are among the most prevalent forms of aggression on school campuses. A behavior that attacks a person's self-concept to cause psychological harm, Verbal Aggression (VA) leads to many undesirable outcomes for both the victim…

Objective: To examine the occurrence of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms in a general population of boys and girls, as reported by parents and teachers, and to investigate differences in prevalence estimates, depending on how parents' and teachers' ratings were combined. Method: Data were collected from 7007 children (aged 7-9) who…

Objective: To assess the prevalence of ADHD symptoms and their relationship to psychopathology in adolescents from the European North of Russia. Method: The prevalence of ADHD symptoms is assessed by teacher reports in 536 adolescents. Internalizing and externalizing problems are assessed by teacher ratings and student self-reports. Results:…

A survey of 556 teachers of students with emotional/behavior disorders (E/BD) found they believed that approximately 38% of students had been abused physically or sexually, 41% had been neglected, and 51% had been abused emotionally. Eighty-two percent related that they had reported maltreatment, most often to administrators. (Author/CR)

Fifty teachers completed a survey to investigate knowledge, self-perceived knowledge, and attitudes regarding self-injury (SI). Teachers were aware of basic facts concerning SI; however, 78% underestimated prevalence, and only 20% felt knowledgeable. Attitudes were mixed, with 48% finding the idea of SI horrifying; however, 68% disagreeing that SI…

Wisconsin teachers provided information on 1,300 students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) who were receiving medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The ADHD/EBD students comprised approximately 26% of all EBD students. The most common medication was Ritalin, and teachers believed the medication effectively…

Ratings of 224 students with serious emotional disturbances by 40 teachers indicated that conduct disorders were very prevalent, were correlated with other problematic aspects of temperament and classroom competence, and co-occurred with other types of behavioral problems. Implications of the study for making eligibility decisions for special…

Children (n=665, ages 12-15) with moderate learning difficulties or emotional and behavioral difficulties in the United Kingdom were interviewed concerning smoking behaviors, and 109 teachers completed questionnaires. Findings revealed that children with emotional and behavioral difficulties had high smoking rates, over 60% of subjects' parents…

The unusually low numbers of students with emotional and behavior disturbances referred and provided with special education services in Mississippi were examined in a survey of 101 special education teachers. Teachers saw parental objections to the label "Emotionally Impaired" as the primary cause of the very low rate of referrals. (DB)

Illinois special educators' (N=75) rankings of prevalence of crime victimization and delinquency among educable mentally retarded, behaviorally disordered, and learning-disabled students matched rankings seen in state crime report records. Behaviorally disordered students were more often victims and perpetuators of violent crime than were the…

A survey of 163 special educators in North Carolina examined aspects of abuse and neglect of their students over the last 3 years. Students were mentally handicapped (MH), learning disabled (LD), or behaviorally/emotionally handicapped (BEH). Of the respondents, 43% stated that they had reported at least one case of suspected abuse or neglect…

Different measures of symptoms and functional impairments were obtained on 285 Head Start children to identify emotional/behavioral disorders. These included six instruments completed by teachers and two completed by parents. Identification of children considered at risk ranged from a low of 1% to a high of 34%. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)