Discusses tribal differences in Native American suicidal behavior. Similarities among these studies are noted, including data sources, the concentration of suicide among the young, intratribal group heterogeneity with respect to suicide, suicide methods employed, and alcohol involvement. The implications of obtaining figures from official agencies…

Reviews research on the cognitive style of Mexican-American students by identifying and describing several important components including field-dependence-independence and cultural influences. Extensive cross-cultural research has provided insufficient evidence to formulate generalizations on the influence to cognitive style on school achievement.…

Investigates substance use patterns among 192 pregnant substance-using women to assess whether ethnic differences exist regarding drugs of choice, frequency and recency of use, and severity of use. Results reveal that substance use patterns differed across ethic groups. Findings suggest that prevention and intervention efforts have to be tailored…

Leisure participation patterns among Mexican-Americans were studied and compared to participation patterns among Anglo-Americans. Both groups demonstrated similar patterns in terms of the extensiveness and frequency of their participation. Influences of language, social isolation, and kinship groups are discussed. (Author/PP)

Presents a literature review on death-related attitudes and behavior of Mexican Americans. The 1976 Kalish and Reynolds study concludes that Mexican Americans are more accepting of death than other ethnic groups. Some findings suggest the opposite may be true. Offers an alternative interpretation of findings plus future research suggestions.…

Noting that one means of better understanding the nature of cultural differences is to elucidate the cognitive differences between members of differing cultures, this paper examines Alexander Luria's sociohistorical theory of functional cognitive systems. The paper first describes Luria's notion of functional systems, the crux of which postulates…

An overview of the behavioral aspects of the "African-American Behavioral Style" (AABS) includes examples of behaviors associated with this style and comparisons to the behavioral style generally associated with Caucasian students. Methods of assessing student behavior are examined in relation to cultural differences in behavior and…

This monograph examines the special educational needs of culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) children and youth who are also diagnosed as having behavior disorders (BD). Following an introductory chapter, chapters 2 and 3 address the specific populations of Asian Americans (usually underrepresented in the BD population) and African…

Variables of sex, ethnicity, social class, and race continue to be confounded in social science research on Mexican American families. Analysis of the stereotypic images of Chicanas (as submissive maternal figures) generates policy recommendations to bicultural research institutions for vigorous affirmative action programs to recruit and promote…

The paper defines and discusses various social learning theories. Central to most theories of how an individual acquires socially acceptable behaviors are the processes of imitation, or observational learning, and identification, or modeling. The effectiveness of each process is noted. (SB)

Reviews the state of knowledge on adolescent sexual behavior in the following areas: (1) onset of sexual behavior as a function of cohort, gender, and ethnic differences; (2) biological, social, and cognitive processes underlying such behavior; (3) demographic trends in the use of contraceptives; (4) research problems; and (5) successful programs.…