Investigated the relationship between aging and church attendance, religiosity, and prayer in a longitudinal study of 338 older Mexican Americans and Anglos. Results showed church attendance and prayer remained stable over time; religiosity increased somewhat. Only church attendance showed a significant effect on life satisfaction, particularly…

A study of differences in the problem-solving skills of Black, Anglo, and Chicano adolescents from rural Texas found that: (1) Reading achievement played a major role in problem-solving; and (2) No significant sex or ethnic differences were revealed. (PP)

Compared the factor structure of a modified Behavior Problem Checklist for groups of Mexican-American and Anglo-American preschool children from low socioeconomic-class families. Only the Anxiety-Withdrawal dimension exhibited strong cross-cultural similarity. Results suggest that emergent classification systems should allow for cultural variation…

Elementary school teachers use cooperative group classroom structures more often than expected. Teacher behaviors and classroom structures are related to the self-orientation and self-esteem of Anglo-American and Mexican American children in a culturally relative pattern. Teacher behaviors are significantly related to positive classroom climates…

Under realistic individual testing conditions there is consistency between the factor structure of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) with Anglo and bilingual Mexican American children. This investigation failed to indicate any unfairness to the Mexican American child on the WISC-R. (Author)

Notes similarities and differences of pretherapy expectations for psychotherapists, length of time in therapy, and definitions of mental illness among 44 Mexican American and 48 Anglo American low income out-patients at an East Los Angeles mental health clinic. (SB)

Matched samples of Mexican American and Anglo children with learning difficulty referrals were compared on WISC-R subtest performance. The Mexican Americans scored significantly lower on Similarities, Arithmetic, and Picture Completion. Their Verbal and Performance IQ score discrepancies suggest that the major educational problem of this group is…

The predictive validity of WISC-R factor scores was examined with samples from the four sociocultural groups of Anglo, Black, Chicano, and native American Papago. The full scale IQ and verbal comprehension (VC) factor scores were significantly better predictors of achievement as measured by teacher ratings and the Metropolitan Achievement Test.…

Compares the nonverbal intellectual performance as measured by the Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices of Chicano and Anglo third-grade boys. When language status and cultural content of the testing instrument are controlled, mean group differences become negligible. This is a sound intelligence measure for use with Chicano children. (Author)

During a 48-hour period, 36 Mexican American and Anglo mothers were videotaped at home teaching their 5-year-old child to tie shoelaces. Contrary to previous research, Mexican American mothers used less "controlling" and nonverbal teaching behaviors than Anglo mothers. Groups differences were also found for relationships between maternal teaching…

Low-income parents completed a social map and measures of self-esteem and child-rearing practices. Results indicated that American Indians had an interconnected web of kin; Hispanics, close-knit social networks; and Anglos, diffuse but supportive networks. Affective dimensions of social networks were related to parenting. Parental self-efficacy…

Examines the nature of language diversity in the small, isolated community of Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, where a lone African American family has resided for over 130 years. (57 references) (Author/CK)

Examines ethnic attitudes toward Chicanos of 87 students, half Chicanos, attending Mexican-American studies classes in California. Results show favorable attitudes across gender, age, and ethnic lines. Asians most favorable toward Chicanos. Non-Hispanic Whites least favorable. In self-ratings, Chicanos and Anglos overestimated favorable attitudes…

The effect of extended text writing on the writing proficiency of urban elementary school students was investigated with 39 fourth- and fifth-grade classrooms. Both quality of writing and use of writing conventions was better for students with extended writing practice, a result consistent for minority and European American students. (SLD)