Adolescents (n=353, 55% female) described their use of product levels and exposure to marketplace-related communication. Females used labels more and had greater exposure to communication, which influenced label use. Parents and peers were important sources of consumer learning. (SK)

Reports a study that examined social factors which might predict adolescent smoking transition from nonsmoking or experimental to more advanced stages. Data from teens who participated in the Teenage Attitudes and Practices Survey indicated that best friends' smoking status was the only factor that consistently predicted adolescent smoking…

Assessed children's temperament and maternal socialization at age 2-3. Assessed children's conscience at ages 4 and 5 by observing children's cheating behavior in a game. Found that for children fearful as toddlers, maternal gentle discipline promoted conscience at age 5. For children fearless as toddlers, alternative maternal socialization…

Examined concordance between caretaker and child self-report of the child's exposure to violence (ETV) in a preadolescent population, noting factors related to increased risk. Interviews conducted at an urban community health center indicated that caretakers and their children had poor agreement on reports of the child's ETV. Immigration status…

Analysis of longitudinal data on 4,948 adolescents, who were virgins aged 15-18 at first interview, found that the probability of having sex for the first time was lowered by religiosity, but only for females; was related to personal and relational attitudes regarding sex; and was only indirectly related to parental attitudes. Having sex…

The author proposes ways to strengthen family bonds and connect youth more closely with caring adults as an antidote to pervasive cultural messages that chemicals are "cool." (Author)

Parents are offered six suggestions, based on research, that can help produce successful readers and learners. (IAH)

Presents detailed descriptions of two intergenerational literacy programs currently functioning to meet family literacy needs. (MG)

Provides descriptive data on strategies obese Mexican-American mothers use in the socialization of their children's eating practices. (PCB)

Children of mothers who were more assertive in their disciplinary styles tended to be less accepted by peers and to expect successful outcomes for unfriendly assertive methods for resolving peer conflict. Children who expected unfriendly assertive strategies to lead to self-oriented gains were less accepted by peers. (RH)

Studied 40 parents and their children aged 18-23 months to determine whether parents encouraged involvement with sex-stereotyped toys or avoidance of cross-sex-stereotyped toys, and whether masculine and feminine toys led to different patterns of parent-child interactions. Children showed greater involvement with same-sex than with cross-sex toys.…

Investigates the relationship between the home experiences of six children aged five years and their level of numerical understanding. High scorers were characterized by exposure to a wide range of number experiences, a strong family orientation towards numeracy, and the opportunity to observe their mothers using numbers to solve everyday…

Used data on 65 mother-infant dyads to test Kohn's hypothesis concerning the relation between values and parenting behavior. Findings support Kohn's hypothesis that parents who value self-direction would emphasize supportive function of parenting and parents who value conformity would emphasize their obligations to impose restraints. (Author/NB)

The career aspirations of 491 rural Ohio secondary students were identified. Results indicate that rural schools emphasize preparation for college attendance and that rural parents hold educational expectations for their children higher than their own attainments. Students also had high expectations, especially with regard to salary. (Author/CH)

Reviews recent literature, finding support for hypothesis that power of alcoholic parent within household is related to whether offspring become alcoholic. In considering reasons for this relationship, suggests that children and adolescents are more likely to emulate and identify with powerful alcoholic parent and, thus, learn that alcohol can…