The program involved each adolescent receiving 10 weeks' consecutive training. The results suggested that individualized training was superior to standardized training. Skills important for making friendships were included in the program, and provision was made for meeting the needs of both impulsive and unassertive adolescents within group…

By acknowledging rather than minimizing the turmoil of adolescence, teachers and counselors can help girls clarify and sort out contradictions: how to become adult while being feminine, being true to themselves while giving to others, and pursuing independence while staying emotionally connected. Teachers should provide constructive feedback, not…

This study investigated effects of social interactive strategies (such as, contingent imitation, natural reinforcement contingency, and time delay) in promoting early social-communicative skills of a preschool child with developmental disabilities during daily classroom activities. Results indicated that the child's eye contact, joint attention,…

Discusses characteristics of pretend play and how it can be used to help children with disabilities interact with their typically developing peers. Includes specific play activities and suggestions for teachers. Notes that available play space, number of toys available, and amount of time allowed also influence participation in pretend play. (HTH)

This study evaluated possible relationships between academic aptitude and psychosocial adjustment in students (total n=475) in 3 gifted programs (grade 2, grades 5 to 11, and early college entrance). Hierarchical multiple regression analyses provided little evidence for a relation between aptitude scores and adjustment within these groups.…

Social-affective characteristics were studied among middle school students with (n=38) and without (n=38) learning disabilities (LD). Groups differed significantly on loneliness, integration, victimization, participation, and teacher-rated social competence, but not on self-concept. (Author/PB)

Summarizes 16 recent ERIC documents and journal articles on children's social difficulties. Topics of the articles include social-cognitive processes of withdrawn children; genetic and environmental influences on inhibition; anxious-withdrawn preschoolers; helping children grow up in the 1990s; development of inhibition; behaviors of parents of…

This study examined the social attributions of 32 students with learning disabilities (LD) compared to those of 29 nonlearning-disabled low achieving and 33 average-achieving students. Students with LD were more likely to use external factors in explaining their social successes and failures, while attributing their successes to internal factors.…

This article critically evaluates social functioning of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity. Differences are evaluated within F. Gresham's model of social functioning, which delineates skill deficits, performance deficits, self-control skill deficits, and self-control…

Examination of the profiles and developmental trajectories of adaptive behavior of 80 children with Down's syndrome indicated a significant weakness in communication skills (especially expressive language), relative to daily living and socialization skills. Children ages 1-6 showed significant age-related gains in adaptive functioning, but older…

This paper views effective communication as an essential component of appropriate social behavior, provides definitions and conceptualizations of social skills and social competence within academic contexts, and describes social skills assessment and intervention procedures for school-age children and youth with and without disabilities.…

Makes two assumptions in examining the transition to kindergarten: (1) multiple risk factors are expected to predict early school social and academic success or failure; (2) classroom and playground experiences will exacerbate or mitigate the effects of those risk factors. Notes the importance of identifying child, family, child care, and…

Examined communication in the family and peer systems in relation to children's sociometric status, measuring turn-taking skills and utterance types for 43 preschoolers during interactions with mothers, fathers, and peers. Rejected-status children demonstrated turn-taking styles that included irrelevant turns, interruptions, simultaneous talking,…

Related individual experiences of shame, inferiority, alienation, self-esteem, and gender to perceptions of equity, intimacy, and competency in marital relations. Found no significant gender-based differences in shame intensity. Findings suggest that shame is a different experience from low self-esteem and is influential in perceptions of marital…

High school students completed achievement, psychosocial competence, behavior problems, and internalized stress. Results showed that the level of parent authoritativeness in adolescents' peer network benefits adolescents above and beyond the positive impact of parenting in their home. (ET)