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In this study we gathered quantitative and qualitative information on the thoughts and feelings of 72 low income, African American sixth‐graders about their future careers, romantic relationships, and family relationships. Interviews were scored along several dimensions of future orientation: detail, optimism, pessimism, realism, and control beliefs. Children also rated the probability that various future life events would occur. Repeated Measures ANOVAs revealed that sixth‐graders were more detailed, optimistic, and realistic about their future careers than their romantic and family relationships and felt that they had more control over careers than relationships. No gender differences were found across the domains of future orientation. Descriptive information about at‐risk adolescents' future orientations is presented. Results are discussed in terms of implications for intervention with at‐risk youth.

This study examined the role of select intrapersonal and microsystem factors in high school adolescents' academic achievement. A combination of factors, derived from an ecological framework, were hypothesized to be unique in their ability to explain greater proportions of variance in academic achievement in adolescents. Participants included 379 high school students (176 males, 193 females) from a mid-western high school in a large metropolitan area with a 53% poverty rate that enrolls approximately 1,500 students. A variety of variables emerged as significant predictors of academic achievement, with social emotional learning, self-efficacy, socio-economic status, parental involvement, peer support, and teacher support all explaining significant proportions of variance in achievement, and some to stronger degrees than others. This lends support to the notion that learning is shaped by a myriad of ecological factors. These findings are discussed with regard to their usefulness in understanding ways in which to target each of the investigated variables to ultimately increase academic achievement in adolescents.

Although the term attachment disorder is ambiguous, attachment therapies are increasingly used with children who are maltreated, particularly those in foster care or adoptive homes. Some children described as having attachment disorders show extreme disturbances. The needs of these children and their caretakers are real. How to meet their needs is less clear. A number of attachment-based treatment and parenting approaches purport to help children described as attachment disordered. Attachment therapy is a young and diverse field, and the benefits and risks of many treatments remain scientifically undetermined. Controversies have arisen about potentially harmful attachment therapy techniques used by a subset of attachment therapists. In this report, the Task Force reviews the controversy and makes recommendations for assessment, treatment, and practices. The report reflects American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children's (APSAC) position and also was endorsed by the American Psychological Association's Division 37 and the Division 37 Section on Child Maltreatment.