Suggests that each dimension of perceived family environment appears to be influenced by a different combination of underlying factors: acceptance-rejection by genetic and specific environmental factors and restrictiveness-permissiveness by shared and specific environmental factors. (RH)

The Mother of Daniel, a severely handicapped child, helped the classmates of her nonhandicapped children understand about disabilities by bringing Daniel to school and answering questions. She and the teachers stressed Daniel's similarities with young children. The experiences helped Daniel's brother and sister deal with their own feelings toward…

Discusses family systems theory as a framework for understanding the common family dynamics observed in families where there is sibling abuse. Presents a case example using family systems theory as a framework for conceptualizing and developing treatment. (Contains 45 references.) (GCP)

Compared Sibling Thematic Apperception Test scores of 30 men and 30 women, divided equally between stages of child-rearing and empty nest, who had same-sex, closely-spaced sibling, to examine sibling relationships during adulthood. Results showed no differences in affiliation or conflict theme frequencies between two life stages. Separation themes…

Analysis of data in the ADSEX (Adolescent Sexuality) Dataset showed that younger siblings have consistently higher levels of sexual activity at a given age than do older siblings. The effect does not interact with the race or sex-match of siblings. A sibling influence interpretation is considered to be the most plausible explanation of the…

Examined impact of having sibling with developmental disability on career choice of nondisabled sibling. Findings from 27 adult siblings of persons with developmental disabilities showed no significant difference in career choice between siblings of individuals with developmental disabilities and siblings of individuals without such disabilities.…

Offers new sibling constellation coding method (Base 32) for genograms using binary and base 32 numbers that saves considerable microcomputer memory. Points out that new method will result in greater ability to store and analyze larger amounts of family data. (Author/CM)

This case report describes the presence of autism and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD) cosegregating within a sibship of half-brothers with the same mother. The report suggests that the rarity of the two conditions suggests a shared transmissible mechanism. (Contains references.) (Author/DB)

Five experiments examined children's understanding of logical consistency. Findings indicated that only by 6 years of age were logically inconsistent claims understood despite good memory for claims, varying question forms, ability to identity other types of statements as not sensical or to compare/contrast claims in other ways, and attempts made…

Objective: To investigate familial clustering of executive functioning (i.e., response inhibition, fine visuomotor functioning, and attentional control) in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-affected sibling pairs. Method: Fifty-two affected sibling pairs aged 6 to 18 years and diagnosed with ADHD according to DSM-IV performed the…

Autism is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder with a 3-4 times higher sex ratio in males than females. X chromosome genes may contribute to this higher sex ratio through unusual skewing of X chromosome inactivation. We studied X chromosome skewness in 30 females with classical autism and 35 similarly aged unaffected female siblings as…

To estimate Flynn effects (FEs) on forms of declarative memory (episodic, semantic) and visuospatial ability (Block Design) time-sequential analyses of data for Swedish adult samples (35-80 years) assessed on either of four occasions (1989, 1994, 1999, 2004; n = 2995) were conducted. The results demonstrated cognitive gains across occasions,…

Clarifying the sources of variation among autism symptom domains is important to the identification of homogenous subgroups for molecular genetic studies. This study explored the genetic and environmental bases of nonverbal communication and social interaction, two symptom domains that have also been related to treatment response, in 1294 child…

Supporting and caring for each other are crucial parts of the social tissue that binds people together. In these networks, men and women hold different positions: Women more often care more for others, listen more to the problems of others, and, as kin keepers, hold families together. Is this true for all life stages? And are social conditions,…

In this study, the authors investigated the degree to which a family investment model would help account for the association between family of origin socioeconomic characteristics and the later educational attainment of 451 young adults (age 26) from 2-parent families. Parents' educational level, occupational prestige, and family income in 1989…