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This study reports changes in the positive psychology construct of hope resulting from adolescents' participation in a 6 week summer camp devoted to developing dance and psychosocial competence skills. Over 5 years, the inner-city camp participants were selected from substantial at-risk situations. Significant positive changes in overall hope were observed pre and post camp with no further changes observed in a 4 month follow-up. Possible contributions to the increase and maintenance of higher hopeful thinking, specific to an inner-city population, are discussed.

This study examined the prevalence and correlates of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in the parents of very young children who sustained a minor to moderate size burn injury. Although prior research has explored this relationship in families of children with major burns, only minimal research has focused on children with minor to moderate injuries. Forty-five parents of young children (<6 years) with a burn injury (mean TBSA = 2.67%, SD = 2.40) completed questionnaires regarding PTSS and demographics at an outpatient burn clinic. Injury-related information was collected from medical records. Parents reported clinically significant levels of PTSS, although in most cases, full diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder were not met. The amount of distress was related to the age of the child at burn, child PTSS, and the source of burn. Variables such as size of burn, days spent as inpatient, or parental presence at the time of burn were not found to be related to parental distress. PTSS assessment should be made mandatory for all parents of young children experiencing a burn injury, regardless of size and severity of burn or parental presence at the time of burn.

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Objectives The purposes of this study were (1) to examine parental perception of childhood obesity and race with measured body mass index (BMI), (2) to determine if parents are receptive to obesity screening in the pediatric emergency department and if receptivity varies by race or weight status, and (3) to determine eating habits that are predictors of obesity. Methods This study is a cross-sectional study, with a convenience sample of 213 patients (aged 4–16 years accompanied by a parent/legal guardian to a pediatric emergency department). Weight and height were obtained, and parents were asked to complete a survey about perception of their child’s weight, nutrition, and exercise habits. Results The current study found that parent perception of weight status was fairly accurate, and perception was predictive of BMI. Race, however, was not predictive of BMI. Parents were generally receptive of weight screening in the pediatric emergency department, and this did not vary as a function of weight status; however, receptivity did vary based on ethnicity, with African American parents being more receptive than white parents. Large portion sizes and the number of times a child eats fast food per week were found to be predictive of obesity. Conclusions Greater than half of the children presenting to our pediatric emergency department were overweight or obese. Parents were generally accurate in their perception of their child’s weight but were still receptive to obesity prevention and screening in the pediatric emergency department.