Two scales were used to measure the cognitive (Hogan's Empathy Scale) and emotional (Questionnaire Measure of Emotional Empathy) components of empathy. Results indicated that incarcerated child molesters (N=29) were, relative to nonoffenders, deficient in both the cognitive and emotional components of generalized empathy. Theoretical and treatment…

Describes a method for identifying how families organize and proceed through the problem-solving process. Method uses new behaviors as markers to identify the beginning and ends of qualitatively different periods of problem-solving interaction. Testing of 40 family groups revealed an orderly, rather than a random, sequencing of problem solving.…

Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health on 11,506 high school students were used to test a gendered and age-graded sequential stress theory in which delinquency can play an additive and intervening role in adolescents' movement from early anger through rebellious or aggressive forms of behavior to later depressive symptoms…

Examines the association between depressive symptoms and decision coping patterns among a nonreferred, nonclinical community sample of African American adolescents. Found a significant association between depressive symptomatology and the use of maladaptive decision coping patterns. Inferred that increasing competence in decision making may have…

Explores the properties of a measure of student behavior in the classroom, and tests the prediction of burnout dimensions from dimensions of student behavior. Focuses on the potential role of psychological variables such as teacher self-efficacy and coping strategies in explaining how teacher well-being is effected by student behavior in the…

Four studies explored children's beliefs about the stability of positive traits among three groups. Findings indicated that younger children were more likely than older children or adults to believe that negative physical and psychological traits would change positively, that they could control the expression of a trait, and that extreme positive…

Latent-variable confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine the interrelationships of depressive and anxious symptomatology and 12 measures of psychosocial functioning in 5,900 adolescents in the community. Findings are discussed in terms of potential contributors to gender differences in distress and psychosocial functioning. (SLD)

Examines the impact of outpatient counseling on clients' psychological symptoms and on their image of God. Counseled participants experienced significant reductions of psychological symptoms over the course of treatment whereas the control group showed no changes. Furthermore, ratings of God's agreeableness significantly increased for clients in…

Summarizes cross-cultural studies of cognitive skills, emotions, and self-images found in responses to drawing tasks by children, adolescents, and adults. Its aim is to find out whether cultural differences in scores on the Silver Drawing Test can illuminate cultural preferences and contribute to cultural practices. (Contains 21 references.) (GCP)

Examined differences in psychological maladjustment among foreign-born Asian, U.S. born Asian, and White American college students (n=136). Results indicated that for Asian-Americans there were ethnic differences in psychological maladjustment that covaried with generation level and that these differences could not be solely attributed to cultural…

Compared psychological functioning and behavior of 46 sexually abused girls (ages 6-14) with that of 46 nonabused girls matched on age, race, family income, and family constellation. Found that sexually abused children demonstrated heightened sexual preoccupation and behavior problems, lower cognitive abilities and school achievement, and more…

Two characteristics of adult children of alcoholics are external orientation and disruption of ego boundaries, which inhibit the development of a sense of self. The dependent attitudes and behaviors associated with these traits affect work habits, career selection, and work relationships. (SK)

A study of the construction and factor validity of the Response to Child Incest Questionnaire, a self-report instrument for assessing commonly reported symptoms of adult survivors of incest, is reported. The instrument's usefulness as a pre- and post-treatment measure and further research needs are discussed. (MSE)

Analysis of questionnaires returned by 395 sophomores reveals that the eating difficulties of college women may be a problem that only partially resembles clinical eating disorders. They displayed the behavioral symptoms but not the psychological traits associated with anorexia and bulimia. Diagnosis and treatment issues, and sociocultural…

Describes the experiences of one farm family over an eight year period: loss of a farm, move to another distant farm, and accidental death of a family member. Discusses multigenerational expectations, feelings of failure, threats to self-esteem, locus of control conflicts, effects of grief and vulnerability, and coping resources. (SV)