Sometimes angry girls abuse the staff who seek to help them. Explores why maltreated girls may act abusively to their staff and provides strategies for professionals to avoid burnout and maintain a positive, therapeutic demeanor even in the face of challenging behavior. (LSR)

Nine textbooks used in applied behavior analysis courses for future teachers of students with disabilities were examined to determine how concepts of positive behavioral support were treated. The study found that, although many of these concepts and practices were discussed in the texts, none promoted the approach as a holistic philosophy for…

Addresses association between recent parental divorce and mental health outcomes in young adults aged 18-23. Half of those studied (n=485) had experienced parental divorce within 15 months of the interview; the other half had not. Comparison indicated that, at the bivariate level, parental divorce was associated with poorer mental health outcomes…

A 2-year longitudinal study investigated influences of social support and self-esteem on adjustment in early adolescence. Findings obtained using latent growth curve modeling were consistent with self-esteem mediating effects of social support on emotional and behavioral adjustment. Lack of balance in social support and self-esteem in direction of…

Treatment programs promote individual solutions to substance abuse through changing dysfunctional behavior and relying on spiritual beliefs and practices. Root problems are understood to be diseases within the person. However, the social conditions implicated in causing the addiction remain unaddressed. Questions whether social workers can bring…

Assesses the relative base rates of common forms of youth psychopathology among 1,400 children, preadolescent, and adolescent Whites, African Americans, Hispanics, and rarer minorities across social classes as defined by parent education levels. Findings include data showing most psychopathology being distributed proportionately across race and…

Provides the pros and cons for the use of Ritalin in today's classrooms. Discusses the causes and diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), what Ritalin does to the brain, why ADHD appears to be so frequently diagnosed, Ritalin's affect on school performance, and the notion that current educational policies contribute to…

A research review found reasonable evidence for an association between challenging behavior and staff stress, and some evidence for temporal precedence. However, few researchers had analyzed data enabling elimination of alternative explanations. It is proposed that staff negative emotional reactions mediate impact of challenging behaviors on staff…

A study compared the effectiveness of a 1-day parent workshop to improve parental self-efficacy in the management of problem behaviors associated with Asperger syndrome and six individual sessions. Parents in both intervention groups reported fewer problem behaviors compared to controls. Mothers reported a significantly greater increase in…

This article discusses the increase in the rate and intensity of child maltreatment, defines the types of maltreatment (physical, sexual, psychological and neglect), their possible effects on learning, and school interventions that can assist the children with learning disabilities. The need for a structured classroom environment is emphasized.…

This paper describes a data-based case study of a linked array of community-based treatment services for troublesome, dual-diagnosed children and adolescents. Factors in the program's successes are described, followed by long-term data supporting treatment effectiveness. Results support applied research at this level and present a simple…

This article discusses applications of education legislation for drug-addicted children, including the Education for All Handicapped Children Act and Sec. 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which recognizes smoking and drug addiction as handicapping conditions. Suggested guidelines for parents seeking school support services under these laws…

This study evaluates a self-management procedure for teaching adolescents with learning and behavior problems (BP) to improve completeness, accuracy, and neatness of creative writing homework assignments. Students were taught behavior change fundamentals, self-instruction, and how to set and work toward goals. Results from two BP high school…

Students can develop self-directed behavior when behavior management strategies are structured to provide opportunities to learn responsible behavior, make choices, and develop internal control. Student behavior is viewed as a response to psychological needs for love and belonging, power, freedom, and fun. Components of a reality therapy session…

The effectiveness of health care for high risk adolescents was studied. Seven funded clinics were compared to three non-funded clinics. Funded clinics detected and treated a wider range of medical and behavioral problems than the others. Males must be encouraged to seek these services. Specific interventions for adolescent patients are needed. (VM)