Reviews existing evidence and presents new evidence supporting the view that gender segregation in play may be in part the result of gender differences in physiological and behavioral reactions to emotional arousal and its regulation. Suggests that differences in contexts that elicit arousal in boys and girls may also contribute to gender…

Natural Helpers program encourages prosocial peer support for coping with problems as early intervention and prevention strategy for reducing adolescent substance abuse. Examined relationship between wanting help with self-esteem and other adolescent problems, including substance abuse, as measured through Natural Helpers needs assessment process.…

Analyzes college writing teachers' dialog learning logs. Finds that groups of teachers developed particular learning foci. Discusses response patterns in log writing and in group interactions. (SR)

Perceptions adolescents formed of peers regarding modeled health behaviors were examined. Students viewed slides of adolescents with or without health behavior artifacts (apple, cigarette, beer can, or tennis racket), rating the models on 16 characteristics. Models were rated less mature, friendly, and intelligent when holding a beer can or…

Proposes the construct of drug use identity and presents a four-stage model featuring this construct. The four stages are (1) identity as a casual user; (2) identity as a drug addict; (3) identity as a recovering addict during late treatment; and (4) ethnic pride, self-esteem, social role responsibility, and health motivation. (KS)

Introduces a series of articles on peer health education, noting why this journal issue is devoted to peer education. Discusses the definition and structure of peer education, structure of the issue, overview of peer education, existing programs, customized interventions, and a training design for peer education programs. (SM)

College peer education is growing, often representing the best use of campus resources for specific needs. Model peer education requires carefully trained and supervised programs that ensure continuous quality improvement. Health educators are exploring more comprehensive training and delivery models, as peer education works to change health…

Explores the moral language 19 young girls used about popular music, focusing on the demise of the popular music group New Kids on the Block. Implications are discussed for educators who might use popular music as a learning tool for young girls' explorations of identity. (SLD)

Examines the relationship between learning styles and writing anxiety with female (n=72) and male (n=18) graduate students. Findings reveal that students with the highest levels of writing anxiety tended to be those who prefer to learn in warm environments, lacked self-motivation, liked structure, were peer-oriented learners, were…

Faculty at an urban university were surveyed to explore the rates of confronting peers and college students with alcohol/other drug problems, the types of interventions made, and the reasons for not confronting impaired others. Results indicate that more faculty knew of a colleague who had a current substance problem than had actually confronted…

Examines American-Indian adolescents' perceptions of risk factors and effects associated with alcohol use during pregnancy, and age-related prevention strategies for fetal alcohol syndrome. Results indicate peer pressure, influences of adult drinking behaviors, stressful family environment, and acceptance of alcohol use in Indian community may be…

Argues that in order to increase student action against racism, antiracist educators should look to lessons from the Holocaust and adopt measures aimed specifically at preventing bystander behavior and conformity to group pressure. Discusses research related to both phenomena and identifies implications for moral education. (DSK)

Describes extent and impact of harassment; responses of victims, school personnel, and perpetrators to harassment; and legal redress available to victims. Includes specific steps social workers and other school personnel should take to prevent or alleviate such problems. (LBT)

Study uses longitudinal growth curve modeling to examine the dynamic relations between refusal skills and alcohol use. The estimated means for alcohol use indicated that on average these adolescents increased their alcohol use by a factor of 140% over a four-year period. Refusal skill efficacy declined by a factor of 13% over the same time frame.…

Tested a path model so as to examine how a modified version of the coercion theory of delinquent behavior fits the data. Focused on family functioning rather than parental behavior. Results suggest that family cohesion is a salient issue in adolescent delinquent behavior, particularly as mediated by involvement with deviant peers. (RJM)