Studies the aggressiveness of over 600 subjects, their parents, and their children over a 22-year period. Subjects who were more aggressive 8-year-olds were more aggressive 30-year-olds, exhibiting serious antisocial behavior as adults. The stability of aggression across generations within a family was also high. (Author/CB)

Longitudinal data concerning fear responses in 30 boys and 30 girls observed from ages one month to 8 1/2 years suggest that in males--but not in females--a predisposition to a particular level of fearfulness is set by events that occurred before 6 months of age. (Author/MG)

Examined continuity, stability, and change in behaviors reflecting infant reactivity and regulation. Subjects were 100 infants of 5 and 10 months old. Found that infant behaviors during frustrating situations showed both change and continuity, but the relationship between reactivity and regulation changed in that both factors became more…

In a longitudinal investigation, a model was developed to assess behavioral, social, and cognitive influences on the academic self-concept of 104 adolescents (57 males, 47 females) who participated in the Fullerton Longitudinal Study between 18 months and 17 years of age. The basic model was Academic Self-Concept = Constant + Behavior + Social +…

Examined mother-child interaction predictors of initial levels and changes in child aggressive and disruptive behavior at school from kindergarten to third grade in 585 mother-child dyads. Found that for boys, high coercion and nonaffection were particularly associated with the high-increasing-aggression trajectory, but for girls, high levels of…

This 3-year longitudinal study examined depressed affect during early adolescence. Variable-centered analyses yielded general stability in depressed affect for both boys and girls. Person-centered analysis revealed five patterns of depressed affect, with gender differences only in smaller subgroups that showed patterns of change in depressed…

This paper uses longitudinal data and multiple regression of follow-up data to identify direction of causality among adolescent alcohol use, normative structure toward alcohol, and peer alcohol use. Data were collected on a random sample of 100 adolescents. Separate regressions were performed on male and female respondents. (Author/LMO)

Tested generality and stability of Holland's vocational choice model by examining preference for avocational (leisure) activity. Developed six hypotheses relating Holland groups to particular types of avocational behavior. The initial test of these hypotheses confirmed five of the six predictions. A follow-up nine years later confirmed all six…

To further explore findings indicating that parental gender is a much more important predictor of caretaker behavior style than is involvement in parental role, 45 Swedish couples were observed at home interacting with their 16-month-old infants. Findings suggest that gender differences in parental behavior are much less amenable to social…

In a longitudinal study of sibling interaction, same-sex and mixed-sex pairs of siblings were observed twice in their homes. Interaction patterns remained stable over the 18 months separating the two observations. Older children initiated prosocial and combative behavior more often than younger children and submitted less often to dominant…

Patterns of personality development leading to psychological health at age 50 were compared in 24 women and 21 men, studied longitudinally since adolescence. Personality Q sorts at four ages--early and late teens, ages 40 and 50--were used to assess personality change and overall psychological health. Q sorts were based on extensive data and…

Determined whether there are developmental precursors to accidents and resulting physical impairment. Data collected at ages 8 and 14 (147 males and 142 females) were related to the number of types of accidents and impairment by the age of 27. Accidents and impairment were most frequent among individuals whose behavior had been characterized by…

Uses data from a nationally representative longitudinal sample to examine the relationship of marijuana use by high school seniors to occupational attainment ten years later. Analyses were conducted separately by gender, with and without controlling for other variables. Results indicate that the influence of marijuana use on occupational…

Focused on mental health and protective factors in early adolescence. Significant relations between coping strategies and mental health were found, which are different according to gender: girls invest in more social relations, negative feelings, and consumption habits; boys often use sense of humor, or practice a hobby or sport. (JBJ)