Are Children More Angered and Distressed by Man–Child than Woman–Child Arguments and by Interadult versus Adult–Child Disputes?

Six to 10‐year‐olds’ responses to witnessing videotapes of five contexts of verbal and physical arguments (man–woman, man–boy, man–girl, woman–boy, and woman–girl) were compared to examine the hypotheses that: (1) man–child disputes would be perceived more negatively and evoke more negative affect in children than woman–child conflict; and (2) man–woman conflict would be viewed more negatively and elicit greater negative emotions in children than adult–child arguments. Results lend support to the two predictions, and consistent with the emotional security hypothesis, reveal that (1) man–child conflict evoked more sadness and fear in children than woman–child disputes; (2) man–woman arguments evoked more intense feelings of sadness and fear than any of the adult–child disputes, and the adult in the conflicts was perceived as more sad and scared when arguing with the spouse than with the girl or boy; and (3) physical conflict evoked more negative affect than verbal disputes.     

Vegetation of the urban habitats in the Nile Delta region,Egypt

The present study aims at identifying the plant communities of the urban habitats in the Nile Delta region, Egypt. Four hundred and five stands were selected to represent the variation in eight major types of habitat recognized in the study area. Twenty-five vegetation groups were recognized after application of TWINSPAN. Their ordination using DECORANA indicates moisture, pH, fertility and texture gradients; the hygronitrophilous communities (the moist and fertile stands) inhabit the wet refuse areas (Echinochloa stagnina-Eichhornia crassipes group), mesonitrophilous communities inhabit the dry refuse areas, motor roads and railways (Pluchea dioscoridis, Cynodon dactylon, Panicum repens and Phragmites australis groups), mesic-dry subnitrophilous communities occur on sandy soils (Hordeum murinum, Alhagi graecorum and Desmostachia bipinnata groups) and the dry thermophilous communities of new anthropogenic habitats with coarser texture of sandy and infertile soil along the railways and motor roads at the borders of the Nile Delta (Zygophyllum album and Cornulaca monacantha groups). These results suggest that urban vegetation in the Nile Delta region is favored where disturbance, nutrient and water resources are more abundant.     

Children's responses to angry adult behavior as a function of experimentally manipulated exposure to resolved and unresolved conflict

Children's past experiences with anger between adults are likely to affect their reactions to ongoing conflict episodes. Four- to ten-year-olds' responses to interadult anger were examined as a function of experimentally manipulated exposures to resolved and unresolved anger. To manipulate exposure histories, children were first presented with videotaped segments of both resolved and unresolved angry interactions. They were then presented with arguments between the two couples that were interrupted in progress; children were interviewed next. At the point of argument interruption, the couple with a history of unresolved anger was perceived by girls as more sad, expected by children to be more sad in the future, and expected to be less likely to either have a positive future outcome or to resolve their disputes, in comparison to the couple with a resolved anger history. Similarly, children tended to expect to feel sad themselves in the future, in response to the discordant versus the harmonious couple. Several age differences in affective responding were found.     

Longitudinal associations between coping and peer victimization: Moderation by gender and initial peer victimization

Stress coping theories suggest that the effectiveness of coping depends on the level of stress experienced. Existing research shows that efforts to cope with high levels of peer victimization may not prevent subsequent peer victimization. Additionally, associations between coping and peer victimization often differ between boys and girls. The present study included 242 participants (51% girls; 34% Black, 65% White; Mage = 15.75 years). Adolescents reported on coping with peer stress at age 16 and on overt and relational peer victimization at ages 16 and 17. Greater use of primary control engaged coping (e.g., problem-solving) was associated positively with overt peer victimization for boys with higher initial overt victimization. Primary control coping was also associated positively with relational victimization regardless of gender or initial relational peer victimization. Secondary control coping (e.g., cognitive distancing) was associated negatively with overt peer victimization. Secondary control coping was also associated negatively with relational victimization for boys. Greater use of disengaged coping (e.g., avoidance) was associated positively with overt and relational peer victimization for girls with higher initial victimization. Gender differences and the context and level of stress should be considered in future research and interventions related to coping with peer stress.