Evidence that parental firm control promotes effective socialization of children (i.e., promotes self-control, social responsibility) is examined, and a reinterpretation of existing measures of firm control that is consistent with attribution theory is offered. It is concluded that the notion that parental firm control promotes effective…

A measure was developed to assess kindergarten children's interest in reading, and information about their home and school environments was collected. High-reading-interest children were read to more frequently, watched less television, and had more books at home. School factors are also discussed. (Author/PP)

Describes a study which surveyed British parents about their educational and occupational aspirations for their children, their views on sexual equality, and their children's out-of-school activities. The messages which children receive about gender from their homes are contradictory, but not as uniformly traditional as many teachers assume.…

Interview data from 336 mothers of elementary school children were used to examine the relationship between mothers' comments to children about the content of television programs and family communication styles (emphasis on free inquiry and expression for all family members vs. emphasis on family harmony and obedience to parental authority). (PD)

Investigated whether marriage-related attitudes which are antagonistic to successful marital adjustment, or maladaptive styles of marital interaction, contribute to the higher divorce rate of children from disrupted marriages. Findings indicated that children from separated/divorced homes espouse the most favorable attitude toward divorce. (Author)

Examined the self-esteem of middleborns compared with firstborns and lastborns. Studied the number, spacing, and sex of siblings of the middleborn. Data were obtained from a national sample of over 2,200 adolescent males. Results suggested that middleborns have a significantly lower self-esteem than firstborns and lastborns. (Author)

Males from rural economically deprived school districts, were surveyed a fourth and final time 10 years after high school graduation. Results show over the 10-year period the occupational and educational achievements and aspirations have been significantly higher for the high-identification with their father group than for the low-identification…

"Strictness" and "warmth" were concepts used to scale descriptions of their mothers as given by first-born 4 1/2 year-olds. Independent data had been obtained on mothers during and after pregnancy. "Strict" and "warm" mothers differed in terms of mental health, post partum period, childhood, adolescence, parent-child interaction, and relations…

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)