Investigates vocabulary acquisition in the context of joint picture-book reading in mother-infant dyads. Infants aged 17 to 22 months and their mothers, 20 middle-class and 20 lower-class dyads, were observed. In both groups interaction foucused on the eliciting or the provision of information. Results indicate several social class differences in…

Through a statement of the research questions involved and a review of empirical studies, the author examines the notion that formal schooling for women in the Third World has potent and beneficial effects on their maternal attitudes and behaviors and, therefore, on child care and family life. (Author/SJL)

Discusses characteristics of successful middle school parent involvement programs as found in several research efforts. Includes a variety of strategies for involving parents, suggests ways to overcome barriers to participation particularly for low income parents, examines how to promote effective school-parent communication, and advocates taking…

Used latent growth curve modeling to examine adolescent alcohol expectancies as mediators of effects of parent alcoholism on escalation in adolescent heavy drinking. Found that parent alcoholism directly affected adolescent heavy drinking. Alcohol expectancies did not mediate parent alcoholism effects. Cross-sectional evidence suggested that…

Comments on the apparent disparity between mathematics achievement as measured by the National Assessment of Educational Progress and various international studies, focusing on the comparability among studies, the magnitude of change in average test scores, and the role of family-related factors in achievement trends in other countries. (SM)

Examined the extent to which racial identity, self-esteem, and academic self-concept were related to academic achievement for 86 African American high school students. Grade point average was best predicted by immersion racial identity attitudes and academic self-concept. Most students indicated they received support for academic work from parents…

This article discusses current research concerning issues in adolescent female talent development: grades in school, females' beliefs about ability, the effects of stereotyping, test score differences, career choice, and parental influences. (Author/CR)

The first in a two-part series on male college student development looks at a significant issue for many young men, lack of relationship with a father, and its effect on their journey to manhood. Specific recommendations are made for adults working effectively with young adult men in this context, and areas for further study are highlighted. (MSE)

Relationships between adolescent functioning and parent support, behavioral control, and psychological control were examined among European American and African American adolescents. A number of correlations were significant, including maternal support and academic achievement and self-esteem, and paternal psychological control and self-esteem.…

Notes that parental involvement in schools often decreases at the middle school level because children do not want their parents at school and parents do not feel welcome. Provides guidelines to increase parental involvement by setting realistic goals, training parents in involvement duties, recruiting, staying flexible, understanding community…

Discusses strategies to guide the parents of newly licensed young drivers. Describes some of the effects of the Checkpoints program in Connecticut and Maryland on traffic citations, motor-vehicle crashes, and family management of teenage driving. (Contains 1 figure and 42 references.) (WFA)

Examined the differential association of mothers' and of fathers' warm/supportive and hostile behavior with adolescents' school functioning and problem behavior, and considered both the direct and indirect processes whereby parents' behavior is related to those domains of adolescents' adjustment. Found that adolescents' self- representations…

Investigated the role of mothers' expectancies in shaping their child's perceived physical competence. Structural equation modeling revealed that mothers' perceptions of their child's physical competence predicted their child's own perceived physical competence 1 year later, independent of the child's previously demonstrated physical ability and…

Cluster analytic techniques identified three subgroups of physically abusive mothers: emotionally distant, intrusive, and hostile. Examination of abused children revealed a clear relationship between abusive parenting styles and behavioral profiles of children. Parents in all abusive subgroups perceived their children more negatively than did…

Findings confirm that children discriminate anger from other background emotions. Children's history of exposure to conflict between parents influences the emotional reactions they have and coping strategies they use when faced with anger between others. Children from violent marriages showed solicitous behavior toward their mothers. (RH)