Validity of a child interview measure of attachment as used in child custody evaluations.

21 girls and 23 boys were interviewed using the Parent Attachment Structured Interview to measure their attachments to mother and father. Attachment scores were then correlated with scores on the internalizing, externalizing and social competence scales of the Child Behavior Checklist. For boys the greater the positive attachment to fathers the fewer the internalizing behavior problems and the greater the social competence. Positive maternal attachment for boys was also positively related to social competence. For girls positive attachment to fathers predicted fewer problems internalizing behavior. Contrary to expectations, maternal positive attachment for girls was negatively correlated with social competence. Recommendations for use of the modification of the child interview measure are given with regard to its use in child custody litigation.

Children's attitudes toward elderly individuals: a comparison of two ethnic groups.

The present study investigated the attitudes of Indian and American children toward elderly people. The "Children's Attitudes Toward the Elderly" questionnaire was used to measure how children perceived elderly people. Chi-square analyses indicated that children of Indian origin gave behavioral responses more often than affective or cognitive ones, while American children were more affective in their responses to questions about their interactions with elderly individuals. The results indicated that Indian children though born and raised in America were encouraged to follow the traditional values of their families' culture. Further research should include actual observations of children from different ethnic backgrounds interacting with elderly people.