In 2021, the U.S. Surgeon General declared a children's mental health crisis, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an increase in the prevalence of youth mental health needs stating that adolescents are in crisis (Reinert et al., 2021). Since 2021, a significant amount of literature has been published, indicating that,…

This study examined structural characteristics and environmental variables in the stereotypic behaviors of eight individuals with developmental disabilities. Findings indicated that structural characteristics (percentage of time, bout length, and bout length variability) were highly correlated. Also, stereotyped behaviors were more likely to occur…

A questionnaire was administered to 153 of 181 13-year-olds who had been assessed at ages 8-9. Results supported the hypothesis that for the majority, aggressive behavior is not a stable trait and cannot be accurately predicted as a recurrent pattern when using the opinions of teachers, peers, or the children themselves. (SK)

Children who handle stress well tend to be self-confident while those who don't are vulnerable and lack coping skills. Descriptions of capable and vulnerable children are listed, and a technique for helping to build positive feelings is offered. (DF)

Summarizes the major research findings on the relationship between television violence and aggressive behavior; concludes that, while there is no definitive proof that such a relationship exists, the evidence points strongly in that direction. (GT)

Investigates the short-term stability of the Adjustment Scales for Children and Adolescents for 124 randomly selected children in grades kindergarten to grade 12. Significant test-retest stability coefficients were obtained and mean differences across the retest interval did not exceed .8 raw score points. Results were similar to those obtained in…

This review of recent empirical research on the effects of television on children and teenagers begins by examining the results of two surveys which were conducted to determine the opinions of experts in the field. A brief statement of the findings indicates that experts generally agree that television harms formal scholastic achievement while…

Constructed broad-band factor scales from a factor analysis of the items that comprise the 12 consecutive Personality Inventory for Children clinical-profile scales. The six-factor solution provided sufficiently robust item clusters to develop scales reflecting Undisciplined/Poor Self-Control, Social Incompetence, Internalization/Somatic Symptoms,…

This investigation analyzed information pertaining to behavior states and their relationship to numerous environmental, physiological, and demographic variables and events. The 66 participants ranged in age from 1 to 21 years and were classified as having profound and multiple disabilities, with developmental ages that ranged to 24 months.…

Considerable attention has been paid to the question of whether altruism increases with age through the years of childhood and early adolescence. The relationship between age and helping was examined for 128 boys and 128 girls in the first experiment. A second sample of an additional 256 participants was then studied to investigate factors which…

Parents and teachers must allow children to feel all their feelings, including anger. Children can be helped to accept their feelings and to channel and direct them to constructive ends. Discipline should be motivated by the need to protect and teach, not a desire to punish. (JAC)

This study compared 29 females with Turner syndrome and 21 females with fragile X syndrome (ages 6-22) on a videotaped role-play interaction with 34 females in a comparison group. Three of eight behavioral measures of social skills differentiated the participant groups. Fragile-X subjects required more time to initiate interactions and Turner…

Addressing the question, "What can be done to promote school achievement?", this paper summarizes the literature on motivation relating to classroom achievement and school effectiveness. Particular attention is given to how values, ideology, and various cultural patterns impinge on classroom performance and serve to enhance motivation to achieve.…

Examined the role of difficult temperament or behavioral style and tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use in the 133 subjects of the New York Longitudinal Study. Results indicated that the possession of difficult temperamental characteristics at age five and in early adulthood are associated with drug use in young adulthood. (JAC)

A survey of 940 university students found that adolescents of Type A parents have higher Type A scores. Moreover, Type A parent-adolescent relationships varied depending on the Type A dimension measured and the gender of the parent-adolescent dyad. Analyses indicated that perceived family environment influenced the development of Type A behavior.…