In Brief

GROWING PAINS Girls are rushing into their teens earlier than ever, according to a new study released by the Girl Scouts Research Institute. Preteen girls in the 8-to-12 age group are increasingly worried about their popularity, weight and appearance. In third grade 75% are happy with their looks, but by the seventh grade only 56% are. By the time they are 10 or 12, nearly a quarter think 12 or 13 is the right age for a first romantic relationship. The report concludes that while they may be maturing physically, emotionally these kids are in many ways still kids.

PREDICTING DIVORCE Marriage researchers can now do more than predict whether a couple will divorce, they can predict when the split will occur. A 14-year study of marital dynamics sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health found that couples who divorced in mid-life tended to be cool and distant. By suppressing emotions, the couples stayed together until a mid-life crisis brought those feelings to the surface. Marriages that ended in the first seven years, by contrast, were characterized by high levels of positive and negative emotions. Apparently, "hot" behavior tends to burn out a relationship early.

NO MORE ROCKING CHAIRS There are more and more grandparents in the U.S.--69 million at last count--and they are overturning all the old stereotypes. Today some 74% of Americans 50 and older have grandchildren, and these grandparents are wealthier, younger and more active than previous generations. They seem to prefer working to retirement. Grandma is more likely to be making business deals than cookies. Boomer grandparents are also comfortable using modern methods, like e-mail, to maintain family bonds.