A study of 97 adults found that 53 reported experiencing one or more types of trauma or abuse in childhood. As a group they scored more negatively than those reporting no abuse on measures of sleep dysfunction. Resilient characteristics were only related to measures of social-behavioral functioning, not well-being. (Author/CR)

This study compared parent and teacher perceptions of 23 gifted children's (ages 6-12) social skills and the importance of different social skills. Teacher ratings of cooperation were significantly higher than parent ratings, and teachers valued cooperation highly. Parent ratings of assertion were significantly higher than teacher ratings, and…

A study used functional analyses to identify the social variables that maintained the inappropriate social-communicative behaviors of two adolescent students with mental retardation. Results were used to identify appropriate, functionally equivalent behaviors that the students were taught to self-monitor. The use of appropriate social skills was…

Evaluated changes in mothers' interactive behaviors with infants from 6 to 40 months who were medically high risk, medically low risk, very low birthweight preterm, or full-term. Found that variations in mothers' responses to children's changing capabilities predicted rates of change in children's social skills. (Author/KB)

The Young Adult Learners Project focuses on personal development and social inclusion through a curriculum emphasizing these topics: self-management, using information, rights and responsibilities, relationships, support, risks, self-knowledge, coping with feelings, and beliefs. Mentors play a key role in guidance and assessment. (SK)

This study first classified empirical measures that have been used to assess the social integration of employees with disabilities. It then aggregated findings describing social interaction patterns in employment. Ten categories of measures of social interaction were identified and occurrence of social interaction was found to vary by…

Maintains that "Fostering Children's Social Competence: The Teacher's Role" masterfully distills multiple research findings into relevant trends and guidelines for early childhood educators and provides specific observations connecting abstract concepts to classroom reality. Notes limitations, including the omission of important issues such as the…

Identifies the characteristics of alienated students as well as proactive factors, such as well-developed social skills, religious commitment, and sense of optimism, which serve to safeguard these students and promote their competence and adaptation. Proposes that in their efforts to curb school violence, counselors should become proactive and…

A study examined whether three children with autism could be trained in conversational skills and whether this would lead to changes in standard tests of theory of mind. The amount of shared interest exhibited by the children during conversations increased during training sessions and children made more responses that were appropriate. (Contains…

The relationship between multicultural competence and racial consciousness of 534 White student affairs practitioners was assessed using the Multicultural Competence for Student Affairs-Preliminary 2 Scale and the Oklahoma Racial Attitudes Scale-Preliminary Form. Experiences with multicultural issues and identification with socially oppressed…

A study compared 21 adolescent boys with Asperger syndrome and 21 controls and found significant differences between the two groups on measures evaluating social perception, social skills, number of close friends and frequency of contact, and social competence. There was also a significant difference on receptive language. (Contains references.)…

The ability of 16 children (ages 8-14) with Down syndrome, 16 age-matched children with nonspecific developmental delay, and 23 younger controls to recognize facial identity and expression was examined. Children with Down syndrome were equally proficient at recognizing unfamiliar faces when expression was varied but significantly poorer at…

Presents ideas for teaching social competence through an integrated curriculum in Head Start programs. Suggestions include planning a grocery store trip, using play to show children how to get along, honoring diverse families in the classroom, bringing diverse community helpers into the classroom, selecting a child of the week, and examining…

Nursing curricula should emphasize egalitarian teacher-student relationships that reflect cooperation and community. Distribution of power between students and teachers, teachers and teachers, and teachers and administrators must be reconceptualized for authentic dialog to occur. (SK)

Group friendship activities can help young children with disabilities in preschool programs develop social skills. Suggestions for successful implementation address the size of the group, activity length, choice of activity, selecting expressions of friendship, and participation of individual children. (DB)