Child, Family and Case Characteristics: Links with Service Utilization in Physically Abused Children

We investigated the relationships between child, familial, and case characteristics and mental health and medical health care service utilization by physically abused children. Participants included 26 parents or caregivers of 37 Medicaid-eligible children who had substantiated cases of physical abuse. Children whose female caregivers reported a greater number of stressors were more likely to receive mental health care. Furthermore, children not living with the maltreating caregiver were more likely to receive medical health care services. Results are discussed in terms of factors that may account for these links, and the similarities of these findings with those of service utilization in general and clinical child samples.     

Predictors of Quantitative and Qualitative Halstead Finger-Tapping Scores in Low Socioeconomic Status School-Age Children

Two hundred and thirteen low socioeconomic school-age children in grades 1 through 8 were administered the Halstead Finger Oscillation (or Tapping) Test (HFTT). All children were age appropriate for their grade in school and were not requiring special education services. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that a composite age/grade classification score, gender, and estimated level of intelligence accounted for approximately 40% of the variability in dominant and nondominant hand scores for these children (multiple R?=?.627, R ²?=?+.393 for the dominant and multiple R?=?+.607, R ²?=?+.368 for the nondominant hand). Only the age/grade level of the child (R ²?=?.168) predicted the ability to inhibit adjacent finger movements when performing the HFTT task. Regional normative data for low socioeconomic school-age children are presented. Neurodevelopmental changes in the cortical and subcortical systems underlying finger movement may account for some of the variability observed in children when performing the HFTT.     

我国3～6岁儿童个性类型及发展特点的研究

该文在以往中国儿童个性结构研究基础上,以问卷调查（n=927）方式,将层次聚类和迭代聚类两种方法结合起来,同时采用理论分析等方法最终确定我国3～6岁儿童的个性类型包括认可型、矛盾型、拒绝型及中间型四类。其中认可型属于积极个性类型,矛盾型和拒绝型属于消极个性类型。研究表明,中班到大班阶段是幼儿个性发展相对重要的时期。男女幼儿在多个个性维度及大部分具体特质方面存在着明显的性别差异。     

儿童和少年情绪障碍相关社会心理因素探讨

儿童和少年情绪障碍是一组由家庭环境因素、认知倾向和个性心理等多种社会心理因素共同作用、相互影响的疾病。家庭是一个系统,对儿童和少年的心理和行为的塑造存在影响。家庭环境和个性因素是以认知倾向为中介产生对情绪的影响,家庭环境因素又影响了认知倾向的形成和个性的发展。从以上三个方面进行探讨,旨在为儿童和少年情绪障碍者的心理干预提供科学的理论依据。     

同伴侵害与人际关系取向人格特质的交叉滞后分析:城市原住儿童与农村随迁儿童的比较

研究采用间隔两年的追踪设计,分析了477名农村随迁儿童（男生57.10%;2014年时平均年龄为11.54±0.64岁）与245名城市原住儿童（男生50.60%;2014年时平均年龄为11.36±0.51岁）的同伴侵害与和谐性、人际触觉两个人际关系取向人格维度的相互影响。这些儿童分别来自上海市采取融合教育的四所公立初中。他们首次参加本研究时为初中预备年级。交叉滞后分析表明,（1）在原住儿童组,时间1的同伴侵害可以负向预测时间2的和谐性与人际触觉;（2）在随迁儿童组,和谐性与同伴侵害有负向循环作用关系,且时间1的同伴侵害可以负向预测时间2的人际触觉。研究一定程度上揭示了人际人格发展与所处环境（特别是同伴侵害的不利环境）的动态相互作用模式。文章最后讨论了原住儿童与随迁儿童混合编班的融合教育模式对所有城市儿童适应社会转型的现实意义。     

Predictors of Psychosocial and Cognitive Adaptation in Children with Sickle Cell Syndromes

Examined the role of socioecological factors (family functioning and socioeconomic variables) in predicting behavioral and cognitive adaptation in children with sickle cell syndromes (SCD). Participants included 74 African American children and adolescents with SCD and their primary caretakers. Outcomes included internalizing and externalizing behavior symptoms, as rated by caretakers, as well as intellectual abilities and academic achievement, as assessed by individually administered standardized instruments. Family functioning consisted of both caretaker adjustment and family environment (i.e., family adaptability and cohesion). Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that caretaker psychological adjustment predicted externalizing behaviors, while family environment (i.e., adaptability and cohesion) predicted neither behavioral nor cognitive functioning. Socioeconomic variables alone predicted intellectual abilities and academic achievement and also contributed to the prediction of child behavioral adaptation. Results are discussed in terms of relevant sociocultural issues and implications for family-level prevention and intervention.     

The Development of the Conception of Socioeconomic Mobility in Children From Mexico and Spain

The authors studied the developmental stages of children's understanding of upward socioeconomic mobility. They interviewed one hundred 6- to 14-year-old participants from Mexico and Spain and asked them about sources of wealth and factors related to socioeconomic mobility. Categorical analyses of the responses showed few age-related changes but noted some cross-national differences. A different analysis designed to identify levels of understanding showed a significant association between age and type of explanation of socioeconomic mobility. Overall, cross-national comparisons yielded similarities in children's developmental trends, and only slight differences were found with regard to cultural background. The present results contrast with those of studies conducted from the perspective of the social representation theory.     

The Stability of Self-Reported Physical Symptoms in African American Mothers and Their Impact on Children

Self-reported physical symptoms are an important marker of health and well-being, particularly among African American women. The stability of African American women’s physical symptoms or the impact of their symptoms on their children, however, has yet to be examined. This longitudinal study examined the stability of maternal self-reported physical symptoms, as well as their role in shaping child-reported physical symptoms, among 137 low-income African American families. Findings revealed that mothers’ self-reported physical symptoms were stable over 2.5 years. Mothers who reported higher levels of physical symptoms were more likely to have children who concurrently reported higher levels of symptoms. Physical symptoms reported by mothers at the first assessment also predicted child-reported physical symptoms 2.5 years later, but only for boys. Physical symptoms appear to be an important, yet understudied, symptom domain that may have significant implications for the health and well-being of African American families.     

Selective Mutism in Children: Comparison to Youths With and Without Anxiety Disorders

Fifteen children with selective mutism (SM), 15 children with anxiety disorders (AD) without selective mutism, and 15 children without anxiety disorders or selective mutism (CN) were compared to examine the relationship between selective mutism and anxiety. Data were collected from children (age 4–10 years), parents, teachers, and clinicians. Results indicated that children with SM closely resemble children with AD. All children with SM received a diagnosis of social anxiety disorder and 53% received a diagnosis for an additional anxiety disorder. In addition, the SM and AD groups differed substantially from controls with respect to parent- and teacher-rated internalizing behavior problems. No differences among the groups were found with respect to parent-and teacher-reported externalizing behavior problems. The results are consistent with prior research emphasizing the association between selective mutism and anxiety disorders, and suggest that selective mutism may be conceptualized, assessed, and treated as an anxiety-related problem.     

The Influence of Cultural and Racial Identification on the Psychosocial Adjustment of Inner-City African American Children in School

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship and combined influence of racial identity and Africentric values on African American children's psychosocial adjustment. Participants were 104 (53 males, 51 females) African American fourth-grade students attending an inner-city public school in a northeastern city. Child and teacher ratings were used to assess the relationship between racial identity, Africentric values, and several indices of child psychosocial adjustment, including child behavior control, school interest, and teacher perceptions of child strengths and problems in the classroom. Child self-esteem and the effects of gender and cohort were used as covariates in several analyses in the study. Overall, findings from the study supported the usefulness of combining racial identity and Africentric values into a single model of ethnic identification for African American children. Implications for risk prevention and enhancement of psychosocial functioning among African American children are discussed.     

Structural Violence Effects on the Educational Life Chances of Children from Low Income Families in KwaZulu-Natal,South Africa

The aim of the study was to explore the structural conditions and social formations that mediate access to quality education amongst low income children in KwaZulu-Natal. Structural violence can lead to injustices to children such as the experience of hunger, disease, poverty and poor quality of education. A total of 117 students (male = 59; female = 58; age range 8 to 18 years) were drawn from three high schools, five primary schools and a special school in a district of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The study captured the voices of participants through individual interviews and focus group interviews. Data were analyzed thematically. Systemic structural conditions in society such as poverty, lack of resources in schools, poor infrastructure in communities, poorly trained teachers, lack of accountability created barriers to educational access for children from poor backgrounds.     

家庭社会经济地位与父母教养方式对儿童青少年公正世界信念的影响

以全国24013名10~15岁儿童青少年为对象,探讨家庭社会经济地位与父母教养方式对公正世界信念的影响。结果发现：（1）家庭社会经济地位能够正向预测一般公正世界信念与个人公正世界信念;（2）权威型教养方式能够正向预测一般公正世界信念与个人公正世界信念,独裁型与纵容型教养方式能够负向预测一般公正世界信念与个人公正世界信念;（3）家庭社会经济地位与父母教养方式的交互作用对公正世界信念的影响显著,其中,权威型教养方式对高家庭社会经济地位比对低家庭社会经济地位儿童青少年公正世界信念的促进作用更大,独裁型与纵容型教养方式对低家庭社会经济地位比对高家庭社会经济地位儿童青少年公正世界信念的削弱作用更大。     

3～9岁儿童自尊结构研究

根据对教师的开放式问卷调查和理论分析,构建了3～9岁儿童自尊结构的理论模型,编制了3～9岁儿童自尊教师评定问卷;通过探索性与验证性因素分析,结果表明：(1)编制的3～9岁儿童自尊教师评定闽卷具有较好的信度、效度和适用性：(2)3～9岁儿童自尊结构由重要感、自我胜任感和外表感构成。     

A Comparison of Stress Measures in Children and Adolescents: A Self-Report Checklist Versus an Objectively Rated Interview

A self-report checklist assessing the occurrence of stressful life events in children and adolescents' lives was compared to an objectively rated interview to determine whether the checklist would introduce over-reporting of events or over-rating of event severity as a function of child/parent depressive symptoms, cognitive vulnerability, or anxiety. Participants completed the Children's Life Events Scale (CLES), the Life Events Interview (LEI), and questionnaires assessing cognitive vulnerability and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Findings yielded a positive association between the checklist and the interview. Contrary to hypotheses, depressive symptoms, cognitive vulnerability, and anxiety were not associated with over-reporting of events. Anxiety was associated with over-rating of event severity in parents but not children. Findings suggest that the checklist and interview may be equally viable approaches to assessing the occurrence of life events. Findings have mixed implications with regard to assessing event severity, as subjective reports may be systematically influenced by anxiety.

Neighborhood Violence and Psychosocial Adjustment in Low-Income Urban African American Children: Physical Symptoms as a Marker of Child Adjustment

We examined the association between neighborhood violence and three domains of psychosocial adjustment in low-income, urban African American children: internalizing, externalizing, and physical symptoms. Based on anecdotal and empirical evidence, it was hypothesized that, relative to internalizing and externalizing problems, a stronger association would emerge between physical symptoms and neighborhood violence. Mother-reported neighborhood violence was associated with child-reported physical symptoms, but not internalizing or externalizing symptoms. Child-reported neighborhood violence was associated with child-reported internalizing, externalizing, and physical symptoms; however, neighborhood violence accounted for a greater percentage of variance in physical symptoms than the other two symptom domains. Our findings were not moderated by the age or gender of the child. We discuss the importance of physical symptoms as a marker of child adjustment in low-income, urban, African American children, as well directions for future research.     

儿童数量表征与数概念的发展特点及机制

对儿童数量表征和数概念的研究是当前数认知领域的两个重点研究方向。我们在这一领域通过理论及实证研究进行了广泛且深入的探索,系统分析了大小数量、符号与非符号数量表征的机制,深入考察了数量表征线索的发展、线性数量表征的发展特点及形成机制等问题;并对数概念的发展及其影响机制、数量表征与数概念的关系进行了理论梳理和实证研究。这些探索为进一步探明数量表征与数概念的发展特点及机制提供了基础。     

稳定性与可变性：西方儿童青少年“大五”人格发展研究概述

弄清儿童青少年人格发展特点,可为人格发展与教育工作提供参考。文章梳理了近30年西方儿童青少年“大五”人格发展的研究进展,区分了人格发展的两种主要表现形式,并分别从这两方面总结出儿童青少年“大五”人格结构的稳定性、人格特质平均水平的可变性。最后基于现有研究存在的问题,结合当前时代特点,提出未来研究方向。     

6-12岁儿童脑电α波的发展特点

本研究以228名6～12岁儿童为研究对象,采用脑电波超慢涨落分析技术(简称ET),对其12导联脑电波(EEG)进行了记录和分析,重点探讨了α波(8～13Hz)的发展特点.结果表明:①随着年龄的增长,不同频率的α波成分表现出不同的年龄特点.②α波不同成分的比率没有明显的性别差异.③儿童α波的优势成分随年龄变化而改变.④不同年龄被试α波的平均频率存在显著差异,随着年龄的增长,6～12岁儿童α波的平均频率呈明显的上升趋势,但男女之间没有显著的性别差异.     

5-9岁儿童自传记忆与自我概念的发展及其关系

自传记忆是关于个体生活事件的记忆,与个体的自我组织结构相互影响。为在同一文化背景下进一步探讨自传记忆与自我概念发展的关系,文章采用访谈的方式,对81名5-9岁儿童进行访谈,结果发现：（1）年龄较大儿童的自传记忆更丰富、具体,涉及更多的他人信息。（2）自我概念在一年级到三年级之间发展迅速。（3）儿童自传记忆与自我概念发展无显著的性别差异。（4）自传记忆与自我概念在多方面存在显著相关。