Using data from the Youth Risk Behavioral Survey of more than 11,600 adolescents, risks for a general-risk group, reporting behavior indirectly linked to the disease, and a high-risk group reporting more risky behaviors, are estimated. Results highlight the weaknesses of behavioral-risk studies and the questionable nature of risk groups. (SLD)

Identified several different patterns of adaptation over first 18 months of bereavement represented by levels of subjective stress and depression in 131 widowed men and women. Anticipatory grief, concurrent stressors, social support, and spiritual support correlated with single significant function which discriminated between different courses of…

Discusses six types of difficult parent behaviors: antagonistic, know-it-all, complaining, negative, shy or unresponsive, and illiterate. Provides teachers with suggestions for working with parents who exhibit these behaviors. (BB)

Examined communication strategies that 68 preschoolers used to negotiate themes and roles in social pretend play. A major finding was that children in the disliked group used higher proportions of suggestions and demands than did children in the liked and low-impact groups. Disliked girls used the highest proportion of suggestions. (LB)

Examination of suicide data in the United States shows that peaks occur only in a few subpopulations. Day-of-the-week effects are found almost exclusively in middle-aged suicides. Day-of-the-month effects are found for elderly males, and month-of-the-year effects occur for teenagers and the elderly. (SLD)

This study, involving 40 young siblings of either handicapped or nonhandicapped children, found that siblings of handicapped children engaged in more parallel and social play and were more nurturing with their siblings than were control children. Mothers were more likely to deliver commands, directives, and reprimands to siblings of handicapped…

Presents meta-analysis of 30 recently published research studies which reported influence of clearly identifiable family socialization variables on self-reported adolescent drinking. Variables were sorted along the dimensions of support and control and along a family structure dimension. Results indicated a low support and lax control were…

This study, based on observation of 28 children with autism in an integrated preschool, explored whether differing levels of autistic behavior were associated with the presence of nondisabled children or with the presence of other children with autism. Results indicated significantly decreased levels of autistic behavior corresponding to the close…

Describes a study of California public-school principals aiming to identify important parameters of secondary instructional leadership, estimate their effect on school achievement, and determine whether they are the same for secondary and elementary principals. The ways that principals govern the school, build school climate, and organize the…

Mothers of 137 children (with or without a sibling having Down's syndrome) were interviewed regarding their child without Down's syndrome. There were no significant differences between groups regarding expectations of "typical" children, but mothers of girls with a Down's syndrome sibling reported significantly more conduct problems than did other…

This observational study of three preschool children with profound disabilities in an integrated setting revealed frequent opportunities for peer social interactions and indicated that subjects engage in interactions of comparable length to those of nondisabled peers. The importance of helping young nondisabled children understand and respond to…

The role that language plays in mediating the influence of verbal descriptions of persons on trait ratings of those persons was studied for 280 college students. Results suggest that the influence of verbally communicated descriptions of persons on trait ratings is mediated by the expected latent factors. (SLD)

Teachers as Facilitators (TAF) program used teachers as leaders of small groups that promoted social, emotional, and academic development of children at high risk for substance abuse. Found that school personnel were capable of accurately identifying and referring students; TAF program was effective in improving students' perceived academic…

Cluster analysis was used to compare the leisure activities of 218 Scottish young adults with and without mild mental retardation. Results showed that for both sexes some proportion of both groups were in each cluster, but the proportions varied widely. Leisure patterns were strongly influenced by gender and marital status. (Author/JDD)

Structured direct interviews with 43 adults having moderate to severe mental retardation evaluated how they expressed grief and dealt with loss. One hundred service providers were also surveyed. Subjects were found to experience feelings of sadness, anger, anxiety, confusion, and pain; to continue some emotional turmoil one year after the loss;…