Evaluation of 170 boys, aged 6 to 11 years, who were referred for serious emotional disturbance (SED) indicated they were typically characterized by limited mental health and educational intervention, noteworthy family stressors, and externalizing psychiatric disorders, especially attention deficit disorder. Findings support revision of Public Law…

Examines the relationship between body fat percent and risk for elevated blood pressure, serum total cholesterol, and serum lipoprotein ratios in 1,230 African-American and 2,090 white 5-18 year olds (1,667 males and 1,653 females). Results support body fatness standards in children and adolescents as cardiovascular risk factors. (SLD)

Three gifted males (ages 10-13) with deficits in successive coding participated in a process-based remedial program which combined global training on tasks requiring successive processing and tasks applying successive processing to decoding in reading, and which utilized verbal mediation. Differences in student improvement were related to entry…

Performances of 60 male and 60 female undergraduates on a conventional multiple-choice test were compared with their performances on a test that enabled them to assess the correctness of their own answers. The self-assessment approach reduced the bias seen in differences between male and female scores. (SLD)

A study found systematic, structural gender differences between male (n=266) and female (n=144) college students in perceptions of and approaches to learning. It is argued that gender variation in study behavior is an important but often neglected source of variation in student learning that can and should be managed by educators. (Author/MSE)

This article addresses the rapid increase in single father households in the United States. Examines the concerns and counseling needs of single fathers and offers the rationale behind group counseling as a preferred method of treatment for such fathers. Also discussed are components of a psychoeducational group approach. (RJM)

Two experiments involving 112 college students, half male and half female, examined the spatial nature of mental-image rotation (MIR) tasks and the use of MIR in stereotypically male or female tasks. Results add to the evidence that instructional and stimulus effects may exacerbate or eliminate sex differences in spatial cognition. (SLD)

The social support networks of 418 adults with mental retardation who live at home were found to be large, durable, active, and diverse in their composition. Family members predominated as members. Males and those with the most severe mental retardation were found to be at risk for social isolation. (Author/JDD)

Two male adults with cocaine dependence received a behavioral intervention comprised of contingency management and the community reinforcement approach. Reinforcement was delivered contingent on submitting cocaine-free (and subsequently marijuana-free) urine specimens. The intervention was efficacious in achieving abstinence from cocaine and…

Aggressive data from four experimental play groups of seven- and nine-year-old black males were coded to examine whether qualitative aspects of aggression serve to distinguish among the behavior patterns displayed by the groups. Found that age makes a great deal of difference in these behavior patterns. (Author/GLR)

Attractiveness ratings of 50 children (26 males and 24 females) aged 12-38 months are studied in relation to adults' socializing behavior and attitude toward them. Correlations between attractiveness scores and child behavior reflect sex differences. A greater impact of attractiveness on girls' development than boys is noted. (SLD)

Effects of information about an adolescent's family structure and behavior on perceptions of education majors were studied for 45 male and 98 female college students. College students made subtle judgments based on this minimal information, but how strongly such judgments affect perceptions and behavior toward adolescents is not known. (SLD)

Parents rated their children on two behavioral rating scales that were designed to evaluate problem and antisocial behaviors. When rating only one child, parents agreed in rating sons' behaviors. Differences were found in mothers' and fathers' prosocial behavior ratings of daughters. When parents rated one child of each sex, no differences in…

Comments on Belsky, Steinberg, and Draper's article in this issue. Offers three likely reasons for adaptation of human behavior. Argues that Belsky, et al. use only two of these reasons in their proposed evolutionary theory of socialization. Suggests that an evolutionary approach is useful if it integrates diverse facts, aids clinical practice,…

Surveys of 534 members of Divisions 9 (Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues) and 35 (Psychology of Women) of the American Psychological Association (APA) reveal different career experiences of males and females in the following areas: (1) education; (2) mentoring; (3) support; (4) salary; and (5) productivity. (SLD)