Studied the impact of support groups on the psychological well-being of adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD). Response of 79 adolescent SCD group members show that psychological well-being was best predicted by fewer physical symptoms and greater satisfaction with the group. Findings suggest the beneficial effects of SCD support groups. (SLD)

Chapters of this special issue focus on two studies of the relationship between students' attentive behavior and literacy achievement involving more than 8,000 Australian elementary school students. Findings from an intervention study and a longitudinal cohort study highlight the interdependence among student-level characteristics and influences…

Prevelance of self-reported victimization was found to be high, both while youth were in and out of school. Males and younger students reported higher rates of victimization. Males and 9th grade students were more likely to report engaging in delinquent behaviors. Students who report moderate/high levels of delinquency were more likely to report…

This article describes experiences of 40 children (ages 3-15) with Asperger syndrome. It finds both variability and consistency in the characteristics of this disorder over time and during specific developmental stages. Results indicate that social skills deficits were variable but remained the greatest challenge for these intellectually bright…

Observations of 22 preschool children with cognitive delays during home-based play, made approximately 13 months apart, found no statistically significant change for the proportion of time spent in various categorical play behaviors. Children's relative ranking on play sophistication also remained stable. Significant changes were found in…

Argues that the computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) community should adopt a stronger orientation to other social science disciplines, particularly psychology. Greater attention to psychological literature provides three benefits: well-validated principles about human behavior in group and organizational contexts relevant to CSCW research;…

Global self-esteem and social-contextual incongruity in factors contributing to the development and maintenance of self-esteem were studied as predictors of the emotional, behavioral, and academic adjustment of 213 young adolescents. Higher reported levels of global self-esteem were associated with more favorable scores on most measures of…

A questionnaire developed to measure barriers to help-seeking behavior in adolescents was tested with 280 high school students following a pilot study. The instrument, Barriers to Adolescents Seeking Help, was found to have good test-retest reliability and adequate validity. Its use in identifying adolescents amenable to or resistant to therapy is…

Examined association of three maternal regulating behaviors with children's positive and negative behaviors toward siblings in 40 Japanese families. Observed maternal regulating behaviors more frequently when younger sibling was still in early developmental stage. Older siblings' negative behaviors toward younger positively correlated with…

This study evaluated the emotional and behavioral adjustment of 41 children (ages 5-15) within the first 3 months following disclosure of extrafamilial sexual abuse. Findings indicated that children's perceptions of self-blame and guilt for the abuse and the extent of traumatization predicted their self-reported symptomatology of depression,…

Examined relationships between family financial resources, academic competence, and socioemotional adjustment during early adolescence. Subjects were 90 African American youths and their married parents in the rural South. Found that parents with greater financial resources were less depressed and more optimistic, and their children were better…

University undergraduates (n=207) reported a diverse range of childhood disciplinary history and their perceptions regarding that history. Analysis indicated that, among those with severely punitive histories, individuals who did not label themselves as abused were less likely to classify events as physically abusive than those who labeled…

This article introduces some approaches that educational practitioners can use to assess the academic skills of students with Asperger syndrome (AS), while emphasizing the need for a comprehensive assessment system involving both formal and informal assessment methods as part of educational interventions. Academic characteristics of students with…

Explored in two studies disparities between how students with different degrees of extroversion and introversion engaged in small-group discussions requiring construction and critique of arguments. Found that extroverted students exhibited a greater tendency to use conflictual discourse, whereas introverted students worked with one another…

Several attitudes that predicted binge drinking on campus were identified by focus groups. A brief classroom intervention led to self-reported attitude change among university students. This type of intervention may be useful to college counselors interested in redefining normative perceptions of alcohol use to decrease the prevalence of binge…