A study exploring friendship relations of homeless, male drug users (aged between 21 and 50 years) through 27 in-depth interviews in Atlanta (Georgia) found that subjects were engaged in friendship networks that offered social support and that there was a relationship between friendships and patterns of crack cocaine use. (JB)

Summarizes a study of questionnaire responses by British and Hong Kong Chinese students rating preferred traits in friends and romantic partners. Reports that romantic partners were expected to be more honest and caring than friends. Lists three principal preferences: kindness/consideration, extroversion, and sensitivity. Finds sensitivity…

This study compares social relationships of 677 homeless mothers with 495 housed mothers on public assistance in New York (New York). Homeless women had more disruptive social experiences but were more likely to have had recent contact with relatives/friends. Over 75 percent had visited relatives/friends in the past year. (JB)

Studies psychosocial development and friendship of 85 secondary school students and 138 college students (71 males and 152 females). Finds no gender preference in choice of developmental style. Friendship variables are more strongly associated with development for boys; girls view their relationships as closer than those of boys. (SLD)

Discusses four strategies teachers can use to encourage friendships among and to develop interpersonal skills of students when incorporating special needs children into regular classroom settings. Strategies involve: (1) establishing a classroom climate that encourages peer interaction; (2) encouraging deeper friendships with diverse children; (3)…

Reviews the following books: "Child Care in Context" (Lamb et al., Eds.); "Making Friends in School: Promoting Relationships in Early Childhood" (Ramsay); "The Epigenesis of Mind: Essays on Biology and Cognition" (Carey and Gelman, Eds.); "Moral Maturity: Measuring the Development of Sociomoral Reflection"…

Explores the ideas of teacher Vivian Paley about social justice in the kindergarten classroom. Reviews her book "You Can't Say You Can't Play." Once kindergartners begin to grapple with questions of rejection and exclusion, Paley extends the debate to older children to encourage schoolwide conversations about justice and democracy. (SLD)

Examines the impact of male intimates, external confidants, and approval of the male friend by an external confidant in relation to the quality of parenting among 80 low-income African-American single mothers. Results suggest that male companionship and confidant support cut the risk of maladaptive parenting. (GLR)

A study investigated the views of 47 Australian parents with intellectual disability, 15 significant others, and 26 service workers on parents' service needs. Parents identified community participation as their greatest unmet need, specifically help to explore work options, know what community services are available, and to meet people. (Author/CR)

Examined characteristics of perceived relational support from four key providers for 12- to 18-year-olds. Variable-centered factor analyses yielded five support dimensions, three specific to providers and two specific to provisions. Person-centered factor analyses identified five types of adolescents with different configurations of perceived…

A teacher at an alternative school draws upon his and other educators' experiences to illustrate that learning within relationships and learning about relationships are fundamental to the educational process. Schools must provide safe, caring environments where kids can establish enduring relationships with each other, teachers, and mentors, and…

A longitudinal study examined effects of social influences on 557 middle school students with learning disabilities and 8,392 typical students. Having a learning disability was associated with consistent, mostly negative, effects on social relations. Student perceptions of friendship groups had small, but significant, effects on their growth in…

Asserts that building relationships with constituents remains the best strategy for ensuring the future institutional survival of community colleges. Examines some of the conditions that community colleges will be facing in the future, such as increasing numbers of students to serve, the continuing need for remedial/developmental education, and…

Trustworthiness was examined in children and early adolescents from two countries. In Study 1,505 children in the fifth and sixth school years in the United Kingdom (mean age = 9 years 7 months) were tested across an 8-month period. In Study 2,350 sixth- through eighth-grade Canadian children and early adolescents (mean age = 12 years 11 months)…

Students with vision impairments in Singapore are educated in segregated settings from an early age. On completing primary school these students continue their education in mainstream secondary school settings. This transition requires considerable adjustment on the part of students with vision impairments. The present research explored the social…