Juliet Harper

Age and type of onset as critical variables in early infantile autism.

A retrospective study of 131 autistic children was made in which 2 groups, Natal and Acquired, were defined on the bases of age at onset and type of onset. Prenatal and perinatal variables were found to be significantly related to Natal onset, whereas in the Acquired group the significant variables were those occurring in early childhood, between years 1 and 3. Follow-up data on intellectual functioning and language development indicated a better prognosis for the Acquired group. An inability to cope with stress is postulated as an underlying feature in both instances, present from birth in the Natal group and occurring in the face of developmental stresses in the Acquired group.

Children's play: The differential effects of intrafamilial physical and sexual abuse

This study investigated the play of sexually abused, physically abused, physically and sexually abused, and nonabused children between the ages of 3.5 years and 10 years. Using a modified form of the Lowenfeld World Technique, we observed each child in four individual sessions in which the child was asked to create a world picture in the sandtray. Their worlds were drawn up, photographed, and analyzed according to three differing criteria. The results indicated both structural and thematic differences across the four groups. The controls made representational and phantasy worlds whose themes were domestic and phantasy wish fulfillment. The sexually abused childrens worlds were representational and mixed, and themes focused on sexuality and the need for protection and nurturance. The physically abused created representational and phantasy worlds in which were displayed considerable aggression and disorganization; and their themes were concerned with conflict, chaos, and phantasy wish fulfillment. The physically and sexually abused were the most diverse; and although their worlds were representational and phantasy ones displaying considerable aggression, thematic content was conflictual in a quarter of cases but also ranged over all categories except domestic.

Problems of Adolescents in Sydney, Australia

Summary The problems of 514 male and female adolescents of 14 and 15 years of age were investigated using an open-ended questionnaire. While there was a high correlation between problem areas for boys and girls, boys reported more problems concerned with educational adjustment and girls more problems concerned with family adjustments. The mean number of reported problems by girls was significantly higher than those reported by boys. It was concluded that the problems of the Sydney adolescent are basically similar to those of adolescents in other Western cultures.

Parental Bonding, Self-Esteem and Peer Acceptance in Father-Absent Male Adolescents

SynopsisResearch findings concerned with parental bonding, self-esteem and peer acceptance in 46 father-absent male adolescents aged 13–15 years and a matched group f r om intact families are reported. Boys from families where the father was absent through divorce or separation were lower in self-esteem and saw their parents, especially the mother, as less caring and more overprotective than did their peers from intact families, or those whose fathers were deceased. Peer acceptance and age at separation did not appear to be significantly related to the level o f self-esteem or perception of parental bonding.

The secular trend in the age of menarche in Australian schoolgirls.

Statistics derived from a sample of 1391 schoolgirls drawn from both state and private schools showed the mean age of menarche to be 12.65 years. Selected schools were included to give a representative sample in terms of geographical and social class distribution. The onset of puberty was found to be normally distributed within the age range 9 years to 15 years 8 months. After an examination of the results of previous Australian studies, evidence was found which suggested a secular trend in the onset of puberty with fluctuations paralleling times of economic crisis.

A differential survey of the problems of privileged and underprivileged adolescents

The problems of adjustment during the midadolescent years were examined in 1298 privileged and underprivileged adolescents from the Sydney Metropolitan Area, Australia. Girls reported more problems than boys in all areas of adjustment and underprivileged adolescents more problems than the privileged group; however, a significant interaction effect was also found. Whether high-income or low-income group, the overwhelming number of problems were associated with educational adjustment and were interpreted as the reaction to pressures to achieve imposed on adolescents of this age.

Recapturing the past Alternative Methods of Life Story Work in Adoption and Fostering

Life story work has long been established as a highly effective means of helping children separated from their birth families to come to terms with a history of abandonment, rejection and loss. However, the traditional method of using photos, drawings, writings and memorabilia from the childs past to create a life story book may not always be possible or appropriate. Juliet Harper presents four case studies in which, for various reasons, it was necessary to pursue alternative methods of life story work, for instance through play and the exploration of dreams. She underlines the importance of truthfulness, sensitivity and flexibility on the part of the therapist, and the need to constantly watch out for clues from the child. In following their lead, she asserts, the most constructive path towards rebuilding their sense of self will be found.

Counselling Issues in Intercountry Adoption Disruption

The shift from infant adoption to adoption of older, special needs and mixed race children, previously considered unadoptable, has lead to a focus on the specific difficulties faced by these adoptive families, together with studies which have investigated the factors contributing to the increased rates of adoption disruption which is a feature of such placements (Rosenthal, Schmidt and Connor, 1988; Barth, 1988; Berry and Barth, 1990). In an early article on the dynamics of disruption, Donley (1978, p 34) suggested that disruption usually followed a predictable pattern and occurred because of one or more of three circumstances: the existence of unidentified factors such as critical information which is not recognised by the family or social worker, the misassessment of the capacity or readiness of the family or child to make an adoptive attachment, and the emergence of unpredictable circumstances which preclude the normal progress of the adoption. While this formulation was based on local same-race adoptions it can easily be generalised to intercountry adoption where all three events are heightened and, in the adoption of older children, compounded by absence of information, experiential differences, inappropriate expectations and communication difficulties. That disruption occurs is a fact, and much has been written on its impact on families and children, but how do children adopted from overseas

What Does She Look Like?: What Children Want to Know about Their Birth Parents.

What information would adopted children like to have about their birth parents as they are growing up and before they can have access to data at 18 years? Juliet Harper presents the findings of a small preliminary study.

The Effects of Early or Late Maturation on the Prestige of the Adolescent Girl

position within his peer groups. Most studies suggest that status in the peer group is expressed in terms of social acceptance, social prestige and popularity (Bonney, 1943 ; Anastasi and Miller, 1949 ; Faust, 1960 ; Horrocks and Benimoff, 1966) all of which are used synonymously and are generally measured by sociometric ratings. During the transition from childhood to adulthood one of the most difficult problems faced by the adolescent is the change in values which takes place, especially with regard to social relationships in the peer group (Hurlock, 1967). The qualities looked for in friends undergo considerable alteration: girls become increasingly concerned with physical appearance, social adjustment and popularity (Douvan and Adelson, 1966). It follows, therefore, that the rate and timing of the physical changes taking place assume an important position in both emotional and social development during this period. Adolescents are extremely sensitive about deviant physical features or extremes of development which draw attention to them and mark them out from their peers. Deviations of any type are painful and it has been found that most adolescents wish to change some aspects of their physical appearance (Schonf~ld, 1950; Cole and Hall, 1970). It has long been recognised that the onset of puberty is subject to wide individual variations which mean that at any one time