Examined fourth, fifth, and sixth graders' self-conceptualizations about their own appearance in relation to peer evaluations of social behaviors. The children also indicated how important they believed appearance to be for peer relationships. Found that the association of appearance self-discrepancies and particular behavior dispositions occurred…

Four focus groups (n=21) were conducted to gather information about coping issues and teacher attitudes related to the education of children with a neuromuscular disease. Results indicate a need for better home/school communication, a need to establish children's sense of competence, and a need for improved peer relationships. (Author/CR)

Offers educators and families a variety of strategies to help facilitate the development of friendships among students with disabilities and their typical peers. Activities to teach students about individual differences, music and art activities to promote friendships, and sample get-acquainted and class-cohesiveness activities are listed. (CR)

A study of over 2,000 college athletes and 1,600 coaches and administrators reveals that abuse is common in team initiations. Nearly two-thirds of athletes admitted participating in "questionable" behavior, and over one-quarter had participated in dangerous or criminal behavior. Female athletes are almost as likely as males to participate. Only…

This developmental and cultural study investigates the impact children's attributions and affects have on their willingness to help in achievement contexts. Findings support Weiner's (1980) attribution-emotion-action model, although interesting developmental and cultural differences were revealed. Classroom implications and directions for future…

Article describes a program of peer counseling initiated to support individual students, improve social environment, and reduce loneliness in school. No change was noted in students' perceptions of loneliness. Significant positive change was found in the social provisions (guidance and reliable alliance), and in number of problems presented to…

Studied the imitation behavior of thirty 14- to 18-month-olds using peer and adult models in an elicited imitation paradigm. Indicated significant memory for 3-step behavior sequences both immediately after modeling and 1 week later compared with baseline performance. Found that children in the peer model group outperformed children in the adult…

This article shows how even preschool children with significant physical disabilities can use the computer independently to learn social skills if given the correct positioning, appropriate computer peripherals and software, grouping, and instructional strategies. A continuum of computer peripheral adaptation is provided, along with a list of…

In a secondary analysis of a study involving 619 middle school students, a path model was tested to examine the effects of family and peer variables on adolescent drug use. Results suggest that peer drug use is a salient issue in adolescent drug use, and that family variables influence male and female adolescent drug use differently. (SLD)

Study with 569 university students examined effects of gender on positive/negative affect, interaction with students, interaction with professors, motivation, and self-concept of ability, and the effects of gender and these variables on grade point averages and educational expectations. Self-concept and interaction with students had strong effects…

Two studies tested a model relating social competence to social support and child-parent attachment for Head Start children. Results supported the conjecture that social competence should be viewed as hierarchically organized. A model consistent with causal pathways from attachment security to support networks and social competence, and from…

Examined associations between children's early experiences in family disputes and later conflict management with close friends. Found that argument used by mothers and siblings that considered children's needs was positively associated with children's later constructive argument and resolution techniques. Mothers' use of argument predicted…

Examined relationships among parenting, sibling aggression, and peer outcomes in 8- to 10-year old boys, their siblings, and mothers. Found that siblings with more rejecting mothers were more aggressive with one another than siblings with less rejecting mothers. Boys with more aggressive sibling interactions were more likely to be nominated by…

European American and second-generation Chinese American 1st and 2nd graders, their parents, and teachers participated in Time 2 data collection of this longitudinal study to assess whether the formal academic environment provided by Chinese American parents is linked to poorer social adjustment in their children. Regressions showed that parents'…

Examines how gender and self-concept relate to gifted elementary students' participation in a biochemistry enrichment program taught by female and male scientists. Students with low self-concepts asked more questions and received more feedback than students with high self-concepts. Student-initiated questions and gender differences in interaction…