Parents of aggressive children often act in ways which contribute to and maintain their children's aggression. Common characteristics of parents of aggressive children include: unfulfilled dependency needs, low self-esteem, bonding failure, disturbed identity formation, cognitive immaturity, denied affects, chaotic lifestyle, and social isolation.…

Reviews research assessing the mother's contribution to children's early symbolic play competence, focusing on children ages 12-36 months. Finds that, as with other family members, mothers can encourage pretend play, but perhaps there is no special maternal role in the process. The quality and quantity of sophisticated play might be affected by…

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 Topics of the articles include social-cognitive processes of withdrawn children; genetic and environmental influences on inhibition; anxious-withdrawn preschoolers; helping children grow up in the 1990s; development of inhibition; behaviors of parents of…

Parents of high-achieving and low-achieving Mexican American fourth and fifth graders had similar beliefs about the importance of education and similar expectations for their children's educational attainment. Parents of high achievers were more likely to be upset by mediocre grades, to feel that they could help their children succeed, and to…

This study examined parental reports of dissatisfaction with boys of fathers without a history of substance abuse and those fathers with such a history. Higher dissatisfaction ratings by both mothers and fathers and other indicators of dysfunction were found in the families in which fathers had a history of substance abuse. (LKS)

Examined mother-father interdependence of white, middle-class, intact families. Extent and nature of interdependence were studied for correlation, similarity, and complementarity for variables in four domains of parenting (child-rearing values, parent-child involvement, child relationship, and child interaction). Found substantial mother-father…

Examined the spontaneous pretend play of mothers and children from the inception of pretend play in late infancy through its elaboration during the preschool years. Suggests that although mothers and young children had different primary motives for initiating pretend play, they both capitalized upon the others' interests in, or support of, pretend…

Asserts that research indicates that parents have a strong influence on the development of their children's achievement motivation. Reports a study of 180 Bophuthatswana adolescents to determine the effects of living in a boarding school or with family. Finds significantly higher achievement motivation scores for the adolescents living with…

This literature review addresses determinants of low behavior control in parenting adolescents at risk. The Barber and Belsky models are used to discuss parent developmental history, parent maturity, parent mental health, socioeconomic status, sources of stress (parent involvement, marital conflict, and job satisfaction), and child…

Examines the responses to the Trauma Symptom Checklist (TSC) of college women (n=654) sexually abused as children, sexually assaulted as adults, sexually assaulted as children and adults, and nonabused. Results support the validity of the TSC as a measure of sexual abuse trauma and point to family patterns associated with prolonged symptomatology.…

The creative development of Maria, Elizabeth, Charlotte, Patrick Branwell, Emily Jane, and Anne Bronte in England during the early 1800s is analyzed, with attention to the role of the parents, collaborative siblings, and the natural environment in supporting their talent. The education of the Brontes and the "little books" they wrote as…

A questionnaire was completed by 67 gifted females and follow-up interviews were conducted with 25 of these women to explore their education, family life and influences, personal and professional achievements, and effects of marriage and children. Barriers to their talent development included their marriages and personal lives. (SW)

Examined changes in influences on adolescent girls' sexual behavior. As expected, influence of parents and friends varied with the girls' ages. Effects of discussion with mother were strongest in 9th and 10th grades. Indirect influence of friends' approval varied across age groups, peaking in 11th and 12th grades; direct effect of peer approval…

Differences in the emotional reactions of male and female adolescents to their most recent occasion of sexual intercourse were studied with 932 Australian secondary school students. Most reported positive emotions, but females were more likely to report negative emotions. Guilt responses and peer and parental influences are also discussed. (SLD)

Dutch replication of Bybee, Robinson and Turow's 1982 study of parental influence on television viewing by children between 3 and 18 years old found 3 distinct parental models: restrictive, evaluative, and unfocused guidance. Parental attitudes toward television and its effects on children were found to be important determinants in the type of…