In Brief: Dec. 20, 1999

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DON'T BE A TATTLETALE? Although the U.S. crime rate is declining, a new Justice Department study offers some major caveats: many crimes are never reported to any authority, and violent crimes against juveniles are reported less often than those against adults (44% vs. 55%). Sexual assaults and thefts are reported about as often for both groups. But in those three categories of crime, no more than 3 out of 10 offenses against juveniles get reported to police. Parents can help by encouraging kids to talk about any crime against them.

UNEMPLOYMENT TOLL How stressful can losing a job be for a family? Serious enough to affect the health of an unborn child. A study in December's Journal of Health and Social Behavior reveals that as male unemployment increases, so does the incidence of low-birth-weight infants. Among pregnant women, stress is a risk factor for giving birth to such babies. The research suggests that jobless families should consider enrolling in stress-management programs where possible.

LET'S GO TO THE VIDEOTAPE If yours is like most families, you'll be renting movies to watch together this holiday season, to help get into the spirit. What kind of spirit? In a poll for the video chain Blockbuster, 1 in 3 respondents cited It's a Wonderful Life or White Christmas as the film that best represents their typical holiday experience. Another 1 in 3 named Home for the Holidays, Home Alone or Beavis and Butt-head Do Christmas as most representative.

--By Alain L. Sanders