Although concerns about peer contagion are often cited in critiques of group treatments for troubled youths, few studies have examined the effects of exposure to deviant peers in residential group care settings. This study used administrative data of youth served at Boys Town, a nationally-known group care provider. Using latent class growth…

While much work has shown that aggressive and disruptive behavior in schools may be reinforced by friends and, for some individuals, enhanced social status in the classroom, few studies have examined these phenomena at school entry. This study sought to examine aggressive behavior patterns in kindergarten children in relation to other individual…

This booklet is designed to help people understand and interact better with people with autism, through descriptions and suggestions for dealing with 33 autistic behaviors. First, the booklet provides a simple list, or index, of the 33 behaviors. Then, for each behavior, the typical "common response" (but not helpful) response is given, along with…

Children of ages 8-14 at the borderline of mental retardation (IQ of 60-85) who present serious behavior problems have been variously described as impulsive, lacking facility with concepts of time, overinvolved in fantasy, depressed, and hyperactive. This study sought to test the appropriateness of such descriptive terms. (Author)

The Ss reporting serious suicidal behavior in the self reported significantly more suicidal behavior in others, including relatives. Significant subgroup differences were present which suggest the possibility of a repression-sensitization continuum. (Author)

Studies using the Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis (T-JTA) suggest that a specific trait pattern (AWOL syndrome) can identify potential army AWOL offenders. Findings suggest that the T-JTA is less reliable when used with a prisoner population, that the AWOL syndrome profile does not exist, and that interpretations based on profile patterns…

In a nonrandomized or observational study, propensity scores may be used to balance observed covariates and trajectory groups may be used to control baseline or pretreatment measures of outcome. The trajectory groups also aid in characterizing classes of subjects for whom no good matches are available and to define substantively interesting groups…

Researchers have long focused upon the problems of student/adolescent drug use; however, such a limited perspective may actually provide inaccurate information as to the actual nature and extent of total drug use. It may be more appropriate to emphasize a lifespan developmental perspective regarding drug abuse behaviors, insofar as drug use must…

To assess relations between behaviors in a particular circumscribed caretaker-child interaction setting and child behavioral dispositions assessed by more extensive observation, caretaker-child interaction data was collected for 40 children across several days in a nursery school free-play setting. These data were related to child behavioral…

A study examined the cognitive and behavioral profiles in 10 individuals (ages 14-51) with Smith-Magenis syndrome. Results found the individuals showed significant relative weaknesses in sequential processing and strengths in naming a partially completed drawing, identifying things, and in reading/decoding. Behavioral findings indicated…

A follow-up study of 26 children (ages 5-13) with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and low intelligence found that children identified with both characteristics have significant behavioral and emotional problems while in their early adolescence. A significant minority had problems at school and with the law. (CR)

Interviews with parents of 37 individuals (ages 12-30) with Prader-Willi syndrome revealed two-thirds displayed skin picking with a frequency ranging from chronic to transient, episodic symptoms. Many individuals with skin picking also exhibited comorbid picking behaviors And individuals with excessive skin picking also had frequent tantrums and…

A study examined the relationship between neuroimaging findings and the behavioral characteristics of 29 patients with tuberous sclerosis. Findings indicate a positive linear relationship between a patient's total number of tubers and degree of intellectual impairment. The number of tubers in the cerebellum was associated with more autistic…

Assesses the locus of control orientation within an alcoholic population and relates this orientation to the degree of cognitive dysfunction. Results suggest that female alcoholics, specifically those who need inpatient treatment, may be a relatively more disturbed group compared to alcoholic male inpatients. (Author/PC)

The major aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between aspects of a child's behavioral style, specifically his temperament and task orientation, in the preschool age period and his level of academic achievement in elementary school. The relationship between behavior problems in the preschool years and later academic achievement…