The early development of sex-differentiated patterns of social influence.

Examined the verbal social influence styles of 36 boys and girls aged 41–52 mo and 38 boys and girls aged 54–66 mo. Ss were observed in the classroom for 36 min each, over several months. Results indicate that boys emitted a greater number of influence attempts than girls and that this was almost entirely due to their greater use of direct forms of requests. This sex-differentiation in the use of direct requests became more pronounced with age. In contrast, girls increased their use of indirect forms of influence between the ages of 3 and 5 yrs. Success of peer influence attempts towards boys decreased with age from 3 to 5 yrs, especially attempts of the indirect type, while success of attempts toward girls remained relatively stable with age. Girls' direct requests were more successful toward same-sex than opposite-sex peers. These patterns are discussed in terms of the role they might play in perpetuating the rigidity with which children establish same-sex groups during the preschool period. (French abstract) (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Behavior of Swedish primary and secondary caretaking fathers in relation to mother's presence.

Parents from 27 Swedish families were observed at home interacting with their infants (aged 8–12 mo) in 2 different social situations—(a) with the father, mother, and infant present and (b) the father alone with infant. 12 of the fathers had been primary caretakers for more than 1 mo (mean?=?3 mo); these families were designated as shared childcare. Men who took little or no parental leave and were never primary caretakers were from families designated as traditional. Results indicate that in the 3-person social context mothers were more likely to engage in distal bidding with their infants (vocalize, smile, laugh) and display affection toward their infants than fathers, regardless of the fathers' past histories of caregiving. By contrast, when the fathers were alone with their infants, effects of the fathers' caregiving histories did occur. In this situation, fathers from traditional families were more likely to display affection toward and play with their infants. In contrast to previous studies, it is suggested that differential involvement in childcare has significant effects in fathers' behavior. (6 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Construct validity of the Child Behavior Checklist: Effects of item overlap on second-order factor structure.

The broadband factor structure of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was examined for the narrowband scales as measured in practice (i.e., with items scored on more than 1 narrowband scale). On the basis of parallel and minimum average partial criteria, a 1-factor solution was indicated for boys age 4–5 yrs, girls age 4–5 yrs, and girls age 12–16 yrs and a 2-factor solution for boys age 6–11 yrs, girls age 6–11 yrs, and boys age 12–16 yrs. The implications of item overlap for research and professional practices associated with the CBCL and related materials are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Marital conflict, maternal and paternal parenting, and child adjustment: A test of mediation and moderation.

Parenting was examined as a mediator of associations between marital and child adjustment, and parent gender was examined as a moderator of associations among marital, parental, and child functioning in 226 families with a school-age child (146 boys). Parenting fully mediated associations between marital conflict and child internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Parent gender did not moderate associations when data from the full sample or families with girls only were evaluated. Parent gender did moderate associations when families with boys were evaluated, with the association between marital conflict and parenting stronger for fathers than mothers. A trend suggested fathers' parenting may be more strongly related to internalizing behavior and mothers' parenting may be more strongly related to externalizing behavior in boys. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Intolerance of ambiguity in preschool children: Psychometric considerations, behavioral manifestations, and parental correlates.

Conducted 3 experiments in a longitudinal study of ego development in which multiple measures were administered at 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 yrs of age and in which information about the parents and parent–child interactions was also obtained. 57 female and 63 male preschoolers were reliably evaluated with respect to intolerance of ambiguity at 3? and 4? yrs of age by independent sets of nursery school teachers. Ss relatively intolerant of ambiguity were comparatively hesitant to enter, narrow in deploying attention within, and premature in imposing structure upon 3 ambiguous experimental situations. Early intolerance of ambiguity in boys was significantly related to later intolerance of ambiguity, general anxiety, structure-seeking behaviors, and less effective cognitive functioning when the boys were age 7. Early intolerance of ambiguity in girls was related, when the girls were age 7, to a pattern of highly stable peer relationships in which the girls played nonassertive roles. Fathers of boys intolerant of ambiguity described themselves as relatively distant and authoritarian, and in a standardized teaching situation were impatient, critical, and less resourceful while interacting with their sons. Mothers of girls intolerant of ambiguity described themselves as nurturant, and in the teaching situation were emotionally supportive and task structuring with their daughters. (28 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Development of role-taking skills in young children.

A role-taking hierarchy was developed based on analysis of the H. Borke (see record 1972-00686-001), the N. Burns and L. Cavey (1957), and the M. J. Chandler and S. Greenspan (see record 1973-02093-001) role-taking tasks, and on 2 new tasks constructed by the authors, all of which deal with the same affective content. Tasks were presented to 7 girls and 7 boys in each of 3 age groups (3 yrs 0 mo to 3 yrs 11 mo, 4 yrs 0 mo to 4 yrs 11 mo, and 5 yrs 0 mo to 5 yrs 11 mo). Data were analyzed by a scalogram and a cluster analysis. The hypothesis that these tasks would form a hierarchy such that the skills needed for the early tasks are logically prerequisite to those needed for the later tasks was supported. A fundamental structural difference--sequential vs simultaneous decentering--was identified. The multidimensional nature of role-taking tasks is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Physical attractiveness as a correlate of peer status and social competence in preschool children.

The physical attractiveness of 59 preschoolers (aged 4 yrs 8 mo to 5 yrs 7 mo) was rated by 77 undergraduates. Two measures of social competence, sociometric status and rank in an attention structure, were also obtained. Rank-order correlations among the 3 measures indicated that physical attractiveness was a significant correlate of sociometric rank but not of attention rank. Sociometric and attention ranks were also significantly interrelated. The relationship between attractiveness and sociometric status was stronger for girls than for boys, and attractiveness was not significantly related to attention rank. Partial correlation analyses indicated that attractiveness did not mediate the relationship between attention and sociometric rank. Results suggest that sociometric data may be influenced by variables such as physical attractiveness that are not necessarily related to social competence. (30 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Description et analyse des attitudes et attributions paternelles favorables á la punition corporelle.

To date, few studies have shown a specific interest in parental discipline from the fathers' point of view. The goal of this study is to fill this gap by documenting the factors that are likely to predict attitudes favoring corporal punishment in a representative sampling of Quebec fathers. In total, 953 fathers participated in a telephone survey. Noted among the variables in the analysis model were: father's sensitivity to the consequences of violence for the child, prevalence of physical punishment toward the child, perception of the level of poverty, reports of violent discipline of a physical or psychological nature experienced during the fathers' childhood, number of people in the household and father's stress associated with the child's temperament. However, an apparent contradiction in paternal attitudes was seen: the majority of fathers were opposed to resorting to corporal punishment while remaining tolerant with respect to its use. The discussion paves the way for a more in-depth analysis and for understanding the potential role played by personal and contextual variables in the explanation of attitudes favoring corporal punishment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Filial therapy with single parents: Effects on parental acceptance, empathy, and stress.

Determined the effectiveness of 10-wk filial therapy with parent–child play sessions as a method of prevention and intervention for single parents and their children. The experimental group was comprised of 20 mothers and 2 fathers. There were 19 mothers and 2 fathers in the control group. Parents ranged in age from 19 to 47 yrs. There were 10 girls and 12 boys in the experimental group and 9 girls and 12 boys in the control group. The children in both groups ranged in ages from 3 to 7 yrs. Results of the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) revealed that single parents in the experimental group significantly increased both their attitude of acceptance and their empathic behavior toward their children, significantly reduced their level of stress related to parenting, and reported significantly fewer problems with their children's behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Motives for helping behavior: Kibbutz and city children in kindergarten and school.

Studied the motives for helping expressed by 80 children 4–5? and 7–8? yrs of age. Half of each age group were from a kibbutz and half from a city. Half of each group were boys, half girls. Ss were presented with 3 pictures depicting 3 situations in which one child had an opportunity to help. They were asked whether the child in the picture would help and if so, what the child's motive would be for such an action. They were also asked questions regarding motives for helping behavior in general. Three hypotheses were stated: (1) Older Ss would express higher-level motives for helping than younger Ss. (2) Kibbutz Ss would express higher-level motives than city Ss. (3) Girls would express higher-level motives than boys. Only the 1st hypothesis was confirmed. No differences were found between kibbutz and city Ss or between boys and girls. (28 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of children's physical attractiveness on teachers' evaluations.

After viewing the photograph of a physically attractive or unattractive child and a vignette depicting a misbehavior possibly committed by the child, 144 female elementary school teachers evaluated the pupil for blame, personality, and punishment before and after reading a report card characterizing the child as a good, satisfactory, or poor student. Though attractive children generally received more desirable personality ratings than unattractive children, a misbehavior was deemed less undesirable if attributed to unattractive rather than attractive children. Furthermore, unattractive girls were blamed less frequently and received more lenient recommendations for punishment than did unattractive boys. Implications for the physical attractiveness stereotyping hypothesis are discussed as well as explanations for the differential evaluations based on the child's sex. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Longitudinal consistency of Matching Familiar Figures Test performance from early childhood to preadolescence.

Age-appropriate versions of the Matching Familiar Figures Test (MFFT) were administered to 29 girls and 30 boys at ages 3, 4, 5, and 11 yrs. Uncorrected for attenuation, MFFT error scores were more consistent over time than MFFT latency scores for both girls and boys. When the longitudinal MFFT correlations were corrected for attenuation, the magnitude of the MFFT error coefficients increased considerably, whereas the magnitude of the MFFT latency coefficients remained basically unchanged. Thus, MFFT latency scores seem to have relatively little long-term implications as compared to MFFT error scores. Across-time consistency of MFFT error scores was an appreciable function of WPPSI or WISC Performance IQ, supporting a "competence" view rather than a "conceptual tempo" view of what the MFFT measures. In girls, the size of the inverse relation between MFFT error and MFFT latency increased from age 3 to 5 yrs and then leveled off. In boys, this relationship remained unchanged between ages 3 and 5 yrs but increased markedly after age 5. Implications for the validity of the MFFT as a measure of an enduring cognitive style are discussed. (37 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The fight question: A mirror of differential socialization and instance of discrimination against little boys?

Asked 51 3 yr olds, 125 4 yr olds, and 70 5 yr olds in a day care center what they would do if a much smaller child started a fight with them. For boys and girls combined, the hit-back response was given by over half of the Ss, and this proportion did not decrease with age. Boys gave this response more often than girls. Sex differences in the response at different ages, however, showed opposite trends: the hit-back response decreased with age in boys but increased with girls. This increase in generally disapproved behavior (striking back at a smaller adversary) and in sex-specific disapproved behavior (physical aggressiveness in girls) is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sibling quarrels and maternal responses.

Examined 40 mothers' interventions in their children's quarrels at 2 time points: when the second-born child was 8 and 14 mo old. Firstborn boys showed more frequent hostile behavior at 14 mo if their mothers had, 6 mo earlier, intervened in a high proportion of quarrels by prohibiting the boys. In families with firstborn girls, in contrast, a high frequency of sibling quarrels at 8 mo was correlated with a high frequency of maternal prohibition 6 mo earlier. Mothers of boys were significantly more consistent in their response to hostile behavior than were mothers of girls. The age of the firstborn was positively correlated with the proportion of quarrels in which the mother prohibited the firstborn and was negatively correlated with the proportion in which she used distraction techniques. (25 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Consequences of fathers' participation in family work: Parents' role strain and well-being.

Examined the relation of fathers' participation in child care and home chores to parents' role strain and well-being in an interview study of 160 Caucasian middle-class fathers (mean age 41.11 yrs) and mothers (mean age 39.38 yrs) of kindergarten and 4th-grade children. In half of the families, mothers were employed. Four forms of paternal participation were examined. Role-strain items referred to immediate and specific problems such as time and energy constraints and role conflicts. Well-being measures assessed self-esteem, life satisfaction, and quality of experience in the parental and marital roles. Regression analyses indicated that when the level of fathers' participation was controlled maternal employment did not condition the relation between participation and the outcome variables. Findings varied for the different forms of participation. For fathers, higher levels of participation were associated with feeling more involved and competent as a parent and with being more critical of wives' patterns and parenting. For mothers, those whose husbands were more participant praised their husbands' parenting, but they were lower in life satisfaction and were more self-critical about their balance of work and family responsibilities. (33 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Age and sex differences in children's reports of dental anxiety and self-efficacy relating to dental visits.

In 2 related studies (cross-sectional and longitudinal) of the dental experience and behavior of 784 boys and 741 girls aged between 9 and 12 yrs, it was found that dental anxiety increased with age; sex differences became marked after age 9 yrs and girls contributed significantly more to the increase than boys. Self-efficacy ratings regarding future good behavior in the dental operatory were taken to reflect emotional processing of past dental experiences. Low self-efficacy predictions and perception of dental anxiety in peers contributed significantly to self-reports of dental anxiety. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interparental agreement on child behavior problems.

Interparental agreement (IA) on child behavior problems was studied by having parents in 137 families complete the Child Behavior Checklist (CBC) for their children (aged 3–13 yrs). IA on specific behavior problems was low. Mothers consistently reported more problem behavior than fathers, but parents did not show different levels of agreement for boys and girls. Discrepancies between parental reports of problem behavior, but not kappa scores, increased as the distress level of the family increased. CBC items rated high for objectivity, observability, molecularity, disturbance, and social undesirability generally obtained higher levels of parental agreement than items rated low for these qualities. Some evidence indicated that items on the externalizing scale of the checklist achieve higher agreement and are more objective, observable, and socially undesirable than items on the internalizing scale. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Parent–child interaction and the acquisition of lexical information during play.

Examined individual play interactions of 14 pairs of parents with their preschool-aged boys and girls (2.6–4.11 yrs old) to determine the ways mothers and fathers provided and elicited lexical information about the names and functions of the parts of a complex toy car. Parents' and children's speech was analyzed for utterances that provided or requested the name (label) or purpose (function) of a car part and for nonlabeling utterances that mentioned the part (term). Analyses revealed significant contrasts between fathers and mothers in their interactive styles and in the amounts and kinds of lexical information they provided and elicited. Fathers' speech contained more different terms than did mothers', and more fathers than mothers described the functions of the car parts. Fathers were also more cognitively and linguistically demanding: More fathers than mothers requested labels and functions from their children. Children, in turn, produced more total vocabulary to fathers than to mothers. These parent–child interaction patterns suggest that fathers and mothers may exert an active influence on children's language development. (4 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Je parle donc j'attends?": Langage et autocontr?le ches le jeune enfant.

Specified the association between self-control and language skills in early childhood and examined the issue of gender variations with respect to self-control. Ss were 67 Francophone infants, including 32 18-mo-old (18 male and 14 female) and 35 24-mo old (18 male and 22 female) children. During an interview in the family home, 3 reward expectation tasks were administered to assess the child's self-control. The Hearing and Speech Subquotient of the Griffiths Mental Development Scales (GMDS) was used to assess the child's language development. Self-control varied depending on age and sex: the 24-mo-old children expected more than the 18-mo-old children, and girls exhibited more expectations than did boys. The relationship between expectation and GMDS was significant for Ss aged 24 mo. The relationship between speech and expectation evidenced at 2 yrs of age supports the socio-historical perspective for the development of self-regulation, and the results concerning the superiority of girls revive the questions of gender-specificity in the area of self-control. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Neoplastic association of enhanced type V collagen production in rat fibrosarcoma

This study investigated hospitalized adolescents (57 girls; 46 boys; mean age = 14 years, 8 months) and their fathers and mothers to ascertain the degree of correspondence (by gender of parent and child) on ratings of total symptoms and of internalizing and externalizing psychopathology. Parents (especially mothers) reported higher levels of symptom severity than their offspring; girls' ratings were more severe than boys'. Whereas interparent correspondence was essentially the same in ratings of daughters, mother-son convergence was generally higher than father-son correspondence. Boys and their parents did not differentiate internalizing from externalizing disorders; girls and parents were better able to discriminate between these types of psychopathology.