Developed perceptual inventory to determine relationship between societal or familial factors and onset of marijuana use among youth and to examine differences by ethnicity, religious persuasion, and parental status. Results from 255 secondary school students revealed five-factor solution, with 26 of 34 items included. Instrument appears…

In Louisiana, 7,383 high school students who had taken home economics were asked who had influenced their career decisions and what they had been encouraged to do after graduation. Analysis showed that family members and friends had the most influence and that most felt encouraged to attend college. (Author/CH)

Discusses relationship between school and home learning contexts and effects on literacy education and intervention. Many approaches to parental involvement erroneously assume parent competence, self-confidence, and interest; and focus on parents acting according to classroom norms. Programs should be didactic, provide continuity between home and…

Two studies examined preschoolers' ability to produce facial expressions of emotions and the degree of physiological patterning in distinguishing among emotions. Face expressions of fear and sadness were more difficult for the children to produce than those for happiness, anger, and disgust. Children's heart rate increased more during expressions…

Describes the use of family systems theory to explain career decision-making (CDM) problems in late adolescence. Reviews research on family dynamics and CDM, and outlines the advantages and limitations of using family systems theory in the treatment of career decision problems. Introduces the concept of "problem-determined" systems as an…

The family's values, attitudes, and ways of relating internally and externally determine its health-creating or destroying power. The family's overwhelming impact on human competence makes a strong case for premarital and parent education that prepares people for roles as spouses and parents. (SK)

Compares family role dysfunction, college adjustment, chemical dependence, and family functioning among college students (n=245) from three groups: dysfunctional homes with significant substance abuse; dysfunctional homes without significant substance abuse; and nonabusing, nondysfunctional homes. Results suggest that substance abuse or dependence…

This study examined 87 pedigrees of individuals with histories of preschool phonology disorders. Significantly more family members with dyslexia and learning disabilities, but not stuttering or hearing impairment, were found in pedigrees of individuals with phonology disorders than in pedigrees of nondisabled individuals. (Author/JDD)

Evaluated Negative Personal motives and Positive Social motives, two drinking motives scales derived from Mulford and Miller's Definitions of Alcohol Scales, and Negative Family Models scales for internal consistency and association with college students' scores on drinking-related Social Complications scale. In both initial (n=553) and…

Examines various research strategies designed to identify invulnerable children, or children who are reared in a disadvantaged home and socioeconomic environment but who nonetheless excel in life. A total of 800 children between 12 and 14 years of age in Orissa State, India, were tested with various peer, teacher, and individual measures designed…

A group of 296 female undergraduates completed the Strong Interest Inventory, Biographical Questionnaire, Bem Sex-Role Inventory, and Self-Esteem Inventory. Life history was a better predictor of vocational interests than either sex-role orientation or self-esteem. The only significant exception was that Femininity correlated with interest in…

Examines the effect of birth order on child development, noting that spacing of children, gender, family size, and family configuration all play a role in determining what effect birth order will have. The article looks at various traits of firstborn, middle, lastborn, and only children. (SM)

Parent involvement in the classroom is important for student success. Though the idea is not new, invovlement is more difficult to achieve with today's changing families. The article notes advantages to parent involvement, describes how to get parents involved, and examines potential problems teachers may encounter. (SM)

Examined correlates of enlistment of young men in military. Focused on all volunteer force, paying attention to effects of work, school, and family roles on enlistment. Work and school enrollment significantly reduced likelihood of enlisting in military for whites but not for African Americans. Marriage and parenthood did not affect likelihood of…

Focus group discussions with Native-American adolescents aged 11 to 17 in Oklahoma examined why teen smokers started smoking, family and peer influences on smoking, reasons for continuing to smoke, reasons not to smoke, effectiveness of strategies to prevent adolescents from smoking, and awareness of the health risks of smoking. (SV)