The "EF" in deficiency: Examining the linkages between executive function and the utilization deficiency observed in preschoolers.

We investigated the contribution of preschoolers' executive function (EF) skills to the effectiveness of their spontaneous strategy production when learning. Performance on computerized tasks of inhibition, attention shifting, and working memory was examined in relation to the effectiveness of 112 3- to 5-year-olds' spontaneous strategy production on a spatial memory task. Participants were asked to remember the locations of four toys representing one of two categories (animals or chairs) placed in a wooden box. Most participants spontaneously implemented a clustering strategy by removing and/or replacing the toys according to category membership. However, less than half of these strategic participants showed concomitant memory benefits (recall of toy locations). The remainder showed a utilization deficiency. After controlling for age and IQ, participants who performed better on EF tasks were more likely to benefit from having used the clustering strategy. These findings indicate that utilization deficiencies among preschoolers may be partially accounted for by individual differences in EF.

A qualitative investigation of adolescents' experiences with parental HIV/AIDS.

The present qualitative study investigated the implications of parental HIV/AIDS for affected adolescents. The purpose of the study was (a) to understand adolescents' perceptions of and experiences with parental HIV/AIDS and (b) to explore how parental HIV/AIDS affects adolescents' psychosocial functioning, particularly in the home and school environments. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 9 adolescents between the ages of 11 and 17. Major themes included loss, transitions, disclosure, school implications, paradoxical situations, support networks, and coping. Findings validated and expanded on previous research and yielded hypotheses for future research.