Objective: This study addressed predictors of change in posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) among youths who had experienced physical injuries. The influences of pretrauma internalizing and externalizing problems, prior stressor exposure, and gender were investigated. Additionally, gender was examined as a moderator of the associations between…

This study investigated moderators of change in an empirically supported family-centered intervention (the Family Check-Up) for problem behavior in early childhood. Participants were 731 2- to 3-year-olds (49% girls; 28% African American, 50% European American, 13% biracial) from low-income families and had been screened for risk of family stress…

Sixty self-rated depressed, behavioral-problem, and normal third- through fifth-grade children closely matched for sex, age, and socioeconomic status were assessed for number, quality, and impact of stressful life events in the past year. Results indicated that dysphoria-reporting children experienced more life events and higher qualitative index…

Suggests secondary parasuicide prevention is the most viable path for future research. Aggressive case findings and primary prevention approaches have failed to reduce suicide attempt rates. A secondary prevention model, based on factors predictive of parasuicide, was developed. Stress reduction and cognitive restructuring were primary goals of…

Tested a model of depression that included level of current problems and social problem solving. Path analysis of data from 205 undergraduates showed the model accounted for 42 percent of the variance associated with the prediction of depressive symptoms. (MCF)

Examined the circumstances surrounding child maltreatment in 328 families. Results showed that physical abuse tended to be associated with child behaviors; emotional cruelty was associated with adult conflict that enlarged to involve the child; and neglect was characterized by failure of parents to assume parental responsibilities. (JAC)

Reviews verbal and physical abuse that threatens well-being and physical survival of lesbian, gay male, and bisexual youths. Notes that this response to gay male, lesbian, and bisexual adolescents by significant others in their environment is often associated with several problematic outcomes, including school-related problems, running away,…

Examined stressful events in lives of 309 10 to 15 year olds and stressful events and psychological symptoms reported by their parents. Findings suggest that young adolescents' stressful life experiences as well as their parents' stressful events and psychological symptoms are factors associated with increases in adolescent emotional/behavioral…

Parents of 30 children with phenylketonuria, classified as being in good or poor dietary control, engaged in verbal and written problem-solving situations under conditions of both high and low time-pressure induced stress. Overall, compliant parents gave higher quality verbal and written problem-solving solutions than noncompliant parents.…

Interviewed 1,200 male Vietnam veterans and spouses or coresident partners of 376 of these veterans. Compared with families of male veterans without current posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), families of male veterans with current PTSD showed markedly elevated levels of severe and diffuse problems in marital and family adjustment, in parenting…

Examined a diathesis-stress-hopelessness model of suicidal behavior. Found that the suicidal group (N=50) differed from the control group (N=50) on a number of dependent measures in accordance with the hypothesis that suicidal individuals are deficient in impersonal and interpersonal problem solving, experience more stress, and are more hopeless.…

Tested the interactions of migraine headache cycles and sufferers' daily experiences of stressful events, emotional arousal, and physical activity. Results support a model of migraine characterized by parallel physiological and psychosocial instability during a 4-day cycle and by an interaction of personality and behavioral (self-reported stress)…

Results of this study emphasized the importance of considering psychological disturbance in assessing functional components of low back pain. Psychologically disturbed patients had higher life-event scores regardless of organic pathology. (Author/BEF)

Few studies have examined the relationship between life events, suicide attempts, and personality disorders (PDs), in spite of the strong associations between PDs and suicidal behavior, and the poor coping strategies often exhibited by these individuals. The authors examined whether participants with PDs who attempted suicide during the first 3…

Evaluated behavior problems and social competence in 198 children, 4-16 years old, from violent and nonviolent families. Mothers rated children's behavior and completed measures of family violence and maternal stress. Children of battered women were rated significantly higher in behavior problems and lower in social competence than were controls.…