Reviews etiology and prevention literatures, exploring relationships between problem and positive youth behaviors, commonalities among predictors, and implications for prevention. Risky/unhealthy/antisocial behaviors, poor mental health, and poor academic achievement are highly prevalent, posing critical dilemmas for adults. All behaviors are…

Used cross-sectional probability sample of 3,132 household adults to compare lifetime diagnoses of nine major mental disorders between respondents who had been sexually assaulted and those who had not. Found sexual assault predictive of later onset of major depressive episodes, substance abuse, and anxiety disorders, but not related to later onset…

Verbal outbursts of one school board member can undermine everyone's effectiveness. The risk of an outburst can be reduced by taking a few basic precautions that include distributing materials prior to the meeting. If the outburst happens, ideally the whole board will work as a unit to set the meeting back on the proper course. (MLF)

Analysis of data from the 1958 Philadelphia Birth Cohort Study indicates that individuals who dropped out from delinquency were less likely to renew their involvement with crime as adults regardless of race, socioeconomic status, gender, or particular dropout period. (FMW)

Examined whether Psychopathology Checklist contains stable and replicable factor structure by factor-analyzing data from male prisoners (N=1,119) in Canada, United States, and England. Found two-factor solution replicated in all samples. Factor 1 defined by personality traits: superficiality; habitual lying/manipulation; callousness; lack of…

Interviews were conducted with 49 foster parents, teachers, and others who have worked closely with 284 children known to have been exposed to crack or cocaine in the womb. Many of the children exhibited impulsive behavior and inability to understand cause, effect, and consequences. Lists resources. (MLF)

Reviews recent studies on child sexual abusers and abuser treatment and their implications for patient assessment and treatment. Reviews recidivism outcome studies from the perspective of their contributions to questions of which sort of treatments appear to be effective with which populations, and suggests that clinicians be aware of the need for…

Reviews the theory of reasoned action to demonstrate how it can be applied to understanding gang violence, and illustrates its potential applicability to a pilot sample of 30 contemporary and 18 earlier gangs living in a large metropolitan community. Results indicate this theory has been helpful in explaining higher levels of violence in…

The social behavior and peer status of 87 physically abused and 87 nonmaltreated 8- to 12-year-old children were compared. Found that abused children had lower peer status, were rated by peers as more aggressive and by parents and teachers as more disturbed, and exhibited more insular social networks than nonmaltreated children. (MDM)

Compared 52 homeless male and female runaways and throwaways for social adjustment and symptomatology. Found that male runaways were significantly more hostile than male throwaways and significantly more socially isolated than female runaways. Female throwaways were significantly more hostile than male throwaways and female runaways. Homeless…

Noted the scant research-examining factors that may qualify the magnitude of relations between parental support and control and adolescent problem behaviors. Examined whether adolescent temperament has an effect on the relationships of parenting to antisocial behavior and substance abuse. Found that parenting and temperament have significant joint…

Discusses risk factors in the formative years that contribute to children developing antisocial behavior. Describes three types of prevention to divert children from a destructive path, and outlines one such program in Oregon for kindergartners. (SR)

"America's Kindergartners," a National Center for Education Statistics report, suggests that kindergarten is becoming increasingly academic. Children's scores on the 1998-99 Early Childhood Study-Kindergarten reflected their mothers' educational and racial/ethnic backgrounds. Two-thirds of black and Hispanic kids fall into the lowest…

The relationships between social skills and psychopathology in 846 individuals with severe mental retardation was examined. Results showed that increases in psychopathological symptoms were related to increases in negative behaviors. Those without stereotypic movement disorders had greater general positive and positive nonverbal behaviors than…

Results of a study indicate that of 37 students who met the criteria for hyperactivity-impulsivity-inattention and conduct problems in third grade, 13 continued to meet the criteria in fifth grade. Students who remained stable, who improved, or who became worse differed significantly on key risk and protective variables. (Contains references.)…