Medical evaluation of 316 children, mean age 6 years, found 39 perpetrators of sexual abuse were less than 16 years old and 15 were between 16 and 19. Young aggressors were more likely to abuse older female children. Adolescent aggressors appeared to engage in more genital/genital and genital/anal sexual abuse than older aggressors. (Author/DB)

Achievement-related beliefs and behaviors of parents of 41 economically disadvantaged African American youth and the relations among parental factors and children's academic self-concept and achievement were studied. Significant and positive relations between parental belief and behavior measures are discussed in light of models of family…

Examined how spousal behaviors related to global and daily marital satisfaction. Eighty-two couples completed daily checklists of spousal behaviors for seven days using an individualized or a standardized assessment method. Daily behavioral event measures were significantly related to global and daily measures of marital satisfaction,…

Ninety-three families of children with developmental delays were interviewed, to investigate the functional accommodations made to sustain daily routines for a child with a disability. Results found a downward trend in accommodation intensity from age 7 to 11, while types of accommodations increased from age 3 to 11. (CR)

Trained observers used the Standardized Observation Codes III to observe interactive patterns within the homes of 23 mother-child dyads in which the mother had physically abused the child and 24 similar dyads with no history of abuse. Among other findings, results indicated the great classificatory and predictive value of this measurement.…

This study of the oral motor behaviors of seven toddlers (age 15 months) may be interpreted to indicate that: (1) mandibular coordination follows a developmental continuum from earlier emerging behaviors, such as chewing and sucking, through babbling, to speech, or (2) unique task demands give rise to distinct mandibular coordinative constraints…

Examined whether children who vary in their behavioral responses to ambiguous provocation but have similar attributional processes differ in their social goals and self- efficacy perceptions. Subjects were 781 4th and 5th graders. Found that aggressive, withdrawn, and problem-solving responders differed in the social goals and self-efficacy…

Determined whether individual neonate characteristics could be detected and reliably measured in preterm infants. Results showed that preterms were highly self-consistent in their reactions to stimuli from neurobehavioral assessments. Highly reliable individual differences among infants were also seen. Individual consistencies and differences in…

Four boys (ages 5 to 12) with developmental disabilities and severe challenging behaviors were evaluated using two functional assessment procedures: different analog probe conditions, and direct classroom observation of the child's behavior, antecedents, and consequences. Results raised questions about the reliability and ecological validity of…

This article discusses behavioral sequelae common in children and adolescents following a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the design of intervention strategies. Emphasis is on the unique needs of these students and the cognitive sequelae of TBI (such as impaired attention, reasoning, learning, and memory) that can cause further behavioral…

A study investigated the relationship between college first-year students'0 self-reported attitudes and behavior and academic success in the first college year. Three of four subscales used in combination predicted accurately first-year students who ended the year in good academic standing. However, the model was much less precise for predicting…

Advocates renewed efforts toward assessing attachment on a single continuum of emotional security. Contends that theory is essential to guide attachment assessment and that the constructs of secure base and emotional security provide the needed conceptual foundation. Addresses challenges to the scoring of attachment on a security continuum.…

Offers suggestions for parents in dealing with a young child's anger when it manifests itself as hitting. Suggestions focus on impulse control and include the following: (1) describe appropriate behavior; (2) show and teach self-control; (3) uncover reasons for anger; (4) prevent out-of-control behavior; (5) calming techniques; (6) and controls…

Research has shown that adolescent tobacco users are much more likely to progress to illicit drugs than are nonusers. This article suggests potential psychosocial reasons for progression based on principles of learning theory, Theory of Reasoned Action, Health Belief Model, and Cognitive Dissonance. Also discusses neuropharmacologic components to…

Traces the interrelations between neighborhood sociocultural factors and adolescents' networks, leisure preferences, and school behavior. The overall conclusion is that both the background variables and most of the network indices correlate with the outcome variables. Results show that time spent with peers indulging in passive leisure consumption…