Thirty-six mothers of children with autism rated videotapes of behavior from young children later diagnosed with autism who were then assigned to a diagnostic or a no-diagnostic information group. No differences were found on overall ratings of intentionality. Mothers in the diagnostic information group rated stereotyped behavior as less…

New York's Futuring Project is responding to key social and economic changes in two ways: (1) requiring all seventh- and eighth-grade students to take Introduction to Technology and Home and Career Skills courses and (2) creating five Adult Centers for Comprehensive Education and Support Services that offer adults education and training,…

Compares the survival strategies of low-income urban households in a squatter settlement in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil with those of such households in other regions. Suggests, uses, and criticizes a simple additive model of survival household activities. Identifies important factors that emerge, and suggests issues for further research. (Author/BJV)

A study of 4,000 college faculty, using data from a national survey, investigated on- and off-campus sources of stress. Results indicated that while different faculty groups (male/female, tenured/nontenured, white/nonwhite) perceived varying stress levels, they also perceived different types of stress. (Author/MSE)

This article focuses on homeless families, the fastest growing segment of the homeless population. The article summarizes current research on the characteristics of homeless families and provides an overview of government homeless policy. Recommendations are presented for developing future homeless policies that incorporate family principles.…

Considers the African American family from the perspective of its specific roles and interrelationships. Examined themes include: extended familial relationships, the position of the single mother in the African American community and her relationship with family members, the father's role, marital relations, transition to parenthood,…

Reexamines family structure's influences on standardized test scores of first- and second-grade children with respect to family resources. Found that two parents in the home and family resources did not affect growth in standardized achievement during school sessions. Family resources did influence achievement when school was out. (RJM)

The contrast between private contentment with family life and public pessimism about the state of the U.S. family mirrors the frightening view of human relations presented by popular culture, particularly popular music. Many African-American leaders deplore any association between African-American culture and current, often obscene, pop music…

This study used interviews and home observations with three families to examine how chronic illness in a young child affects daily family life. The families reported frequent low vitality, selective interest in available support groups, restricted social life, and preoccupation with decisions concerning their child's illness. General strategies,…

Families were interviewed and participated in a social interaction task. Results indicated that married mothers of adolescents generated more conflicts than did divorced mothers, and adolescents from married families exhibited more positive communication than did adolescents from divorced families. There was a greater trend toward harmonious…

Explores the impact of cultural change on home patterns of communicative interaction between Inuit caregivers and their young children in two communities of northern Quebec, Canada. A longitudinal, ethnographic study of two children with young mothers and two adopted children with older mothers illustrates many changes in the Inuit culture and…

Discusses aspects of the Family Narrative Consortium's multisite, multidisciplinary collaboration to study the effect of social context on family narratives. Considers the value of the study for developing a coding system for narratives that yields comparable results across research sites. Examines the measures, epistemological issues,…

Describes the establishment and development of a support group for the parents of children infected and/or affected by HIV infection. The group is hospital-based, meeting monthly since April 1992, facilitated by professionals but with a self-help and peer support emphasis. Explains the planning, setting, and running of the group. Identifies…

Analyzed 88 articles from 7 popular women's magazines published between 1977 and 1990 to determine treatment of day care and maternal employment effects on children. Results suggest that coverage of the topics increased. However, the change from positive to mixed views appears to reflect conflicting opinions of child care experts regarding effects…

Argues that, while teacher and school efforts are important, the conditions outside of schools hold the key to increasing academic achievement substantially. Family socialization practices in American and Asian families are reviewed; and children's early cognitive and social behaviors are linked to later school behavior, including academic…