Describes a study conducted to determine whether women who had recently completed a self-protection course had less or more fear of criminal attack. Indicates that participating women remained as fearful, but were better prepared to deal with victimization. Suggests that chemical agent/self-protection courses instill self-confidence. Includes the…

Studied effects of professionally led and peer-led family caregiver groups (N=56) on psychological functioning, informal support networks, and positive personal changes in handling of caregiver role. Found professionally led groups produced greatest psychological functioning improvement and peer-led groups produced greatest increases in informal…

Examined stressors (length of unemployment, financial concerns, social support), stress symptoms (self-esteem, depression, physical symptoms, psychological symptoms, locus of control), and job seeking behaviors of 35 members of self-help organization for unemployed professionals over age 40. Results indicated that financial concerns and social…

Evaluates the incremental effects of the use of a self-help booklet, computer-generated personalized feedback, and outreach telephone counseling in a population-based, nonvolunteer sample of smokers. Smoking status was ascertained 3, 12 and 21 months postrandomization. Overall, the telephone counseling significantly increased smoking cessation at…

Discusses bibliotherapy and suggests supportive knowledge as a better term for use in school libraries. Describes experiments in two Israeli schools that developed a self-help section in the libraries and showed an increase in reading, open discussion among students and librarians, and collaboration between school administrators, teachers, and…

Two Central Illinois farming communities (one Amish and one non-Amish) were selected for this study on the basis of preliminary interviews with individuals knowledgeable about communities in this geographic area in which residents generally assist one another in times of need, rather than seek outside help. Residents of Amish communities and some…

Alcohol abuse is a serious problem affecting not only the individual abuser, but also family, friends and society. The effectiveness of contracts as positive tools in the treatment of alcohol abuse was investigated for 15 current abusers randomly assigned to individual therapy sessions. Each subject completed a Personal History Questionnaire, the…

A preventive intervention program based on self-help groups for parents reinforced by the involvement of veteran parents, those who had a premature infant during the past 12 months, and professionals to provide support and information was evaluated. Sets of randomly selected parents (N=35) met weekly in a small group of four to six couples during…

The incidence and extent of irrational beliefs in the obese were investigated as well as subsequent changes in such beliefs as a result of participation in a self-monitored weight control program. Subjects were 53 females who were a minimum of 10 pounds and an average of 32 pounds overweight. The obese sample was administered the Irrational…

Examined effects of a self-instruction intervention on the relationship between cognitive level and conceptual tempo among preoperational and concrete operational children. Cognitive level and conceptual tempo were strongly related; preoperational children tended to be classified as impulsive, concrete operational children as reflective.…

Reviewed research on the relationship between health, family communication, and support systems. Described a project encouraging family members to support each other's attempts to alter their diet and exercise patterns. Demonstrated that promoting social support for change among family members can encourage changes in diet and, less effectively,…

The Oak Hill School Model was developed to secure the best plan for educating, training, and developing a life program for the multihandicapped person. The handicapped individual's full potential is developed in the least restrictive environment. The group home program teaches self-help skills and is an alternative to the institution. (JN)

The paper documents and analyzes the nature of community self-help efforts in rural areas of Anambra State, Nigeria. It notes that community perceptions of development are based on a social and economic yardstick and differ from the prevailing public policy on agricultural development. (Author/SB)

Self-observation as a behavior change technique was implemented through behavioral consultation in a public elementary school system. The self-observation procedures were introduced to two subjects with academic problems (assignment completion) and two subjects with behavioral problems (disruptive talk and interruptions, respectively).…

Tested mildly depressed undergraduates (N=52) in treatment for depression using cognitive-behavioral, self-help manual. Results suggest that Holland's Realistic personality types are most successful in terms of reduction of depression scores, whereas Enterprising types are least successful in terms of attrition. Low superiority, high generalized…