The relationship between time estimation and hyperactivity was studied with 135 normal, 6 hyperactive, and 6 mentally retarded boys (ages 7 to 17 years). It was found that only the retarded Ss showed significant differences between elapsed and estimated times, suggesting that time estimation is not clinically useful for identifying hyperactive…

Methodological issues raised in a feasibility study to develop a psychological test to predict illicit drug use are described. A small set of items was found to be related to prior drug use. These items maintained their ability to discriminate users and non-users in a cross-validation study. (Author/JKS)

Applying basic decision theory on a neuropsychiatric hospital population indicates that researchers using a prediction schedule will be unlikely to predict a future suicide beyond a 20 percent level of efficiency. Eliminating false negatives was more practical than eliminating false positives in increasing the efficiency of a predictive schedule.…

Examined social physique anxiety, upper body esteem, social anxiety, and body dissatisfaction as possible predictors of anabolic steroid (AS) use. Results based on 185 AS-using bodybuilders and various control groups indicated that the upper body strength subscale of two measures, along with age, were significant predictors of AS use. (RJM)

Assesses the relationship between discharge status and therapeutic outcomes after discharge from a residential treatment program for adolescents. Results of this study did not indicate superior outcomes for the planned discharge group. Several issues are raised regarding the use of discharge status as a performance indicator and recommendations…

Examines the relationship of two types of common behavioral problems of adolescence, substance involvement (SI) and Conduct Disorder Behavior (CDB), to traumatic injury related health problems (TRHP) during adolescence and young adulthood. Analyses suggest that early SI places females at risk for TRHP, while CDB is more related to TRHP for males.…

This study of 147 sex offenders on probation explores whether there is support for the cycle of abuse theory among child molesters. Results indicate that being abused as a child is related to being a child molester. It was also found that the MMPI-2 did not predict the status of the subjects in regard to being abused as a child and having a victim…

Used data from the 1993 National Black Politics Study to examine the way gender worked in explaining African American attitudes toward gay men. Results indicated that African American females expressed more positive attitudes toward homosexual men than did African American males, and of the variables examined (including age, church attendance,…

Analyzes data from an evaluation of system-of-care community mental health services to identify correlates of conviction. Female adolescents with a reported history of criminal conviction were compared to three other groups. The conditional odds of reporting a high number of child correlates was found to be significantly greater for females with a…

Evaluates whether anxiety, event valence and demographic variables influence relationship between helplessness and depression. Results showed: adolescents with anxiety and depression from lower socioeconomic backgrounds made less helpless attributions for negative events; and African-American adolescents showed less helpless attributions for…

Investigates the likelihood of family reunification across ethnic groups of youth using runaway shelter services nationwide. Youths who reported abuse or neglect by their parental figures or had parent(s) who were unemployed were less likely to reunify following a runaway episode. However, completing youth shelter services markedly increased the…

A study of 359 married women who sought sex therapy with their spouses found a connection between adult female sexual dysfunction and childhood sexual abuse. Abuse involving sexual penetration was specifically associated with adult sexual dysfunction. Future research on additional variables that contribute to sexual dysfunction is urged. (CR)

This study examined risk factors for abusive parenting in 56 physically abusive parents and 62 matched comparison parents. The set of five risk variables was predictive of abuse status; however, not all variables were predictive when considered individually and interactions did not contribute significantly to prediction. Findings supported a…

Explores the relationship between alcohol consumption and contraceptive methods used by 364 heterosexually active undergraduate students at a large public university. Twenty-six percent of the respondents reported drinking alcohol before their last sexual encounter. Found that men who combined alcohol and sex were less likely to report that their…

Five-year follow-up study of recidivism of male graduates from adult boot camp examined the competing theories in predicting recidivism among these males. Findings indicated that elements of social learning theory are among the strongest predictors of recidivism. Differential peer association and normative definitions are the two top predictors.…