Analyses of data obtained from 779 New Zealand children showed that family adversity and preschool-age intelligence quotient predicted problem behavior during the first year at school, but reading scores accounted for a larger proportion of the variance in later behavior problem scores than did school-age intelligence quotients. (Author/JDD)

Teachers' ratings of 327 elementary-school students with hearing impairments were studied in relation to demographic characteristics and educational treatment parameters. Better speech production performance was associated with better hearing, higher socioeconomic status, consistent use of amplification, and later commencing of preschool training.…

In a random sample of 1,088 men in the Charleston (South Carolina) Heart Study, differences in all-cause or coronary disease mortality rates were not significant for African-American and white males when socioeconomic status was controlled. Socioeconomic status appears to be an important predictor of mortality. (SLD)

Develops a causal model that explains over 40% of the variance in matriculation mathematics achievement of mature internal and external students at the University of Papua New Guinea. Background variables seem more important in the learning of mathematics compared to mediating variables for external students than for internal students. (MDH)

Examines the relationship of a set of career variables, family cohesion, and demographic variables with the acculturation level of a sample of 176 Mexican-American community college students. Results reveal that only the demographic variables related significantly to acculturation. Socioeconomic status appeared to account for most of the variance…

Analyzes the importance of incorporating both individual and neighborhood risk factors into predictive mental health needs assessment models. Data from the Epidemiologic Catchment Area Survey and the 1980 Census suggest that, with the exception of neighborhood social rank, neighborhood social area dimensions rarely make substantive contributions…

Secondary school teachers participating (n=371) and not participating (n=422) in continuing education in Hong Kong were surveyed. Such variables as situations, dispositions, attitudes, beliefs, and social norms did not distinguish participants from nonparticipants. The only significant factors were socioeconomic status and motivations. (SK)

The goal of the study was to determine the relative strength of four major explanations for the rise of elder abuse among a population in transition from traditional to modern culture. The study compared a sample of 120 abused elderly Arab Israelis with a control group of 120 nonabused older adults from the same background. The abuse status…

Self-rated health (SRH), a consistent predictor of mortality among diverse populations, is sensitive to health indicators and social factors. American-born Hispanics report better SRH than their foreign-born counterparts but simultaneously report poorer health indicators and have shorter life expectancy. Using a matched prospective cross-sectional…

This nonexperimental, longitudinal field study examines the extent to which variation in observed classroom supports (quality of emotional and instructional interactions and amount of exposure to literacy and math activities) predicts trajectories of achievement in reading and math from 54 months to fifth grade. Growth mixture modeling detected…

This longitudinal study followed 142 children to determine whether the quality of mother-child interactions, as measured in kindergarten, predicted high school academic achievement and attainment. Findings showed that, regardless of race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, and IQ, positive mother-child interactions in kindergarten were…

Studies have examined the impact of environmental variables on academic achievement among student athletes in the revenue-generating sports of men's basketball and football. However, while evidence concerning the positive impact of male student athlete and faculty interaction is virtually unequivocal, we are not certain whether the benefits…

Explored with a causal modeling approach were relationships among (1) student socioeconomic status (SES), (2) students', teachers', and principals' expectations for and attributed responsibility for students' learning, and (3) students' achievement. Participants were 76 principals, 250 teachers, and 5,289 third-grade students included in a sample…

Findings in industrialized countries, such as those of Jencks and Coleman, indicate that socioeconomic status has a strong influence on academic achievement and that school effects are of lesser importance. This study of socioeconomic influences and school influences on the performance of 23,615 Ugandan children taking the Primary Leaving…

The probable impact of policies designed to relieve or remove the financial burden placed upon low income college students is examined. Basic causes of differences in participation rates by income class are discussed and empirical estimates based upon this discussion are presented with respect to various policy alternatives. (LBH)