The relationship between social support and self-efficacy was investigated in teacher assistance team members and participating school staff members at 27 elementary schools. Social support factors examined were guidance, reliable alliance, and reassurance of worth. Findings showed reassurance of worth was strongly related to self-efficacy in…

Analyzed 1992 and 1998 data from National Longitudinal Study of Youth to investigate effect of maternal marital status on maternal reports of behavior problems in African American adolescents. Found that maternal marital status did not have a significant relationship with maternal reports of behavior problems. However, mothers in married families…

A study of 31 Latina mothers and their preschool children enrolled in a Los Angeles Head Start program found that 77 percent of mothers and 45 percent of children had witnessed community violence. About a quarter of mothers had significant levels of distress symptomatology, which were related to child behavioral problems. (Contains 69 references.)…

Twenty children with severe interactional and communication difficulties at age 2 underwent a comprehensive assessment for autism, and were reassessed at age 4-5. Diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorders at age 2 was found to be reliable and stable. Children whose social scores deteriorated tended to have had more behavior problems. (Contains…

Examines how sensory integration disorders contribute to behavioral difficulties in young children and how considering the neurological underpinnings to behavior problems can help to clarify their origins and lead to obtaining appropriate and effective help. Lists signs of sensory integration disorders. Delineates techniques to use when a child…

This article provides guidance on the use of functional behavioral assessment (FBA) techniques to identify the function of problem behaviors by recording antecedents and consequences of each behavior. It includes a case study illustrating application of FBA as well as a sample form for recording observations, developing a behavioral hypothesis,…

Applied a semiparametric mixture model to a sample of 284 low-income boys to model developmental trajectories of overt conduct problems from ages 2 to 8. Identified four trajectories: persistent problem, high-level desister, moderate-level desister, and persistent low. Initially high and low groups were differentiated in early childhood by high…

Examined the differential association of mothers' and of fathers' warm/supportive and hostile behavior with adolescents' school functioning and problem behavior, and considered both the direct and indirect processes whereby parents' behavior is related to those domains of adolescents' adjustment. Found that adolescents' self- representations…

This study examined fourth- and fifth-grade girls' cognitions of their relationally aggressive peers as a function of their own relationally aggressive and sociometric status. Findings indicated that relationally aggressive girls tended to display a relatively cautious and wary social cognitive style in relationally provocative social situations.…

Studied teachers' perceived control over child behavior among Swedish preschool teachers working in school preparatory classrooms. Found that a high proportion of children with externalizing problems and a high proportion of boys in the classroom were the most salient aspects for teachers' perceived control. The importance of teachers' perceived…

Data from 278 children (ages 18-35 months) were used to norm the Language Development Survey (LDS) and the Child Behavioral Checklist. Vocabulary scores increased markedly with age, were higher in girls, and were modestly correlated with socioeconomic level. Correlations between LDS scores and checklist problem scores were low. (Contains…

A review of 41 studies on behavioral interventions for children with autism (ages 0-8) found aggression, tantrums, self-injury, and stereotypy were behaviors most targeted. Results also indicate interventions should be developed based on a thorough analysis of biological, antecedent, and consequence events that control them. Behavioral support…

This study explored perceptions of nine adults with cognitive disabilities and/or autism regarding barriers and solutions experienced due to problem behavior and elicited suggestions for improving quality of life while reducing problem behavior. Emergent themes included communication difficulties, need for privacy and personal decision making, and…

Studied the role of pubertal development on depression, externalizing behavior problems, self-esteem, and body-image of 951 Mexican early adolescents. Findings show that the acute experience of menarche adversely affected the psychological well-being of girls, specifically in terms of depressive symptomatology. Pubertal change in boys did not…

Information on family context was used to individualized behavioral support plans designed to support family use of functional communication training (FCT) for three children (ages 3-5) with autism. Results indicate problem behavior decreased and functional communication increased when FCT was introduced into family routines selected for training.…