Related blood levels of testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin in pregnant women to gender role behavior among 342 male and 337 female offspring at 3.5 years. Found that testosterone levels related linearly to girls' gender role behavior. Neither hormone related to boys' gender role behavior. Other factors, including older brothers or…

Examined the effect of experience on children's use of video-presented information. Found that after seeing themselves "live" on their family television for 2 weeks, 2-year-olds reliably used a live video presentation of an adult hiding a toy to find the toy in an object-retrieval task. Most also transferred what they learned to a task…

Examines the perceptions of self and the attachment relationship to parents in aggressive and nonaggressive rejected children, as compared to children with an average or popular sociometric status. Results generally confirmed the assumption that only the nonaggressive rejected children perceive themselves as less competent and worthy as a person…

Assesses the interacting relationship between child behavior problems, marital satisfaction, maternal depression, and family cohesion in 43 mothers and school-aged boys. Results suggest that mothers with depressive symptoms report lower levels of marital satisfaction and higher levels of child behavior problems. Findings also suggest that maternal…

Examined the development of compliance and self-assertion toward parents in two-, four-, and six-year-old children. Found that older children were more compliant, more likely to use logical argument, and less likely to ignore. Boys showed higher levels of compliance to their fathers, whereas girls were more likely to state their preferences and to…

Used standardized mood-induction procedures to examine the relation between attachment security and representational-defensive processes. Subjects were 32 preschoolers ranked most secure and least secure using Attachment Q-Set. Found secure subjects were no more responsive to positive mood inductions, and no less responsive to negative ones, than…

Analyzed message strategies used by teachers while intervening in toddler disputes. Found that teachers rarely requested information from toddlers during or following conflicts, thus not allowing disputes to be resolved through negotiation. Instead teachers usually used "stop" commands. Teachers intervened in disputes every five minutes,…

Hierarchical confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate the two-factor second-order structure of the Child Behavior Checklist (T. Achenbach, 1991) in a sample of 577 children with serious emotional disturbance. Results support Achenbach's proposed structure model and indicate that an overall score would be an appropriate measure of global…

Examined how aspects of preschoolers' peer-conflict behavior varied according to partner. Found that initiating and negotiating behavior in early sessions better predicted behavior in the fourth session for the same-partner versus change-partner group. Results indicated that much of preschoolers' conflict behavior was sensitive to influences…

Investigated coping strategies of mothers of children 8 to 19 years old with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Survey responses produced three factors: aggressive/confrontive coping, rational coping, and indirect coping, which were similar to established coping dimensions. Comparison with responses from mothers of non-ADHD children…

Examined the number and nature of temperamental types in 488 children, age 3 years 6 months. Configural-frequency-analysis methods showed clear support for two temperament types: controlled-nonexpressive and noncontrolled-expressive. These types showed meaningful differences against external criteria related to a wide range of problem behaviors.…

Notes that time-outs have become a preferred method for setting limits with preschool children, and illustrates why this method is not developmentally appropriate for use with toddlers. Suggests that caregivers should join young children at play, be alert for learning opportunities, and develop practices to minimize conflicts. (LBT)

Examines the effects of adding correspondence training to a behavioral skills training package that taught abduction prevention skills to 31 children, ages 4-5 years. Results indicate that correspondence training did not improve correspondence between saying and doing target behaviors. However, both training approaches were equally effective in…

Describes an intervention for children ages 4 through adolescence who steal. The child must apologize, return the stolen item, pay the victim an amount equal to the cost of replacing the stolen item, and lose a possession of approximately equal value. Provides a case example. (RJM)

Examined child caregivers responses to children's behavior and their attributions regarding the type of behavior requiring discipline and the nature of the punishment. Found that caregivers were most concerned about aggression, not listening, and sexually related behaviors; disciplinary strategies included time-out, explanation, and redirection.…