Data from 368 families of children with autism and other developmental disabilities in the People's Republic of China were gathered to understand the stresses that families experience and the coping strategies they employ. Chinese families of children with developmental disabilities perceived high levels of stress related to pessimism, child…

The published psychological literature on the developmental milestone that is the doctoral dissertation emphasizes either psychological interpretations or practical strategies as ways to help, each often failing to note the critical importance of the other. Clinicians need to understand underlying psychological issues that may complicate the…

Reviews selected research on personal and family stress and outlines some of the most effective strategies for stress management. Topics include effective management strategies for individuals, families under stress, stress pile-ups, conflicting role expectations, and effective coping strategies for families. (CT)

The delayed stress response syndrome is a form of chronic catastrophic stress disorder. The theoretical nature of the syndrome and its most characteristic symptoms are delineated within the context of treating Vietnam combat veterans. The paper outlines treatment implications within a family therapy program. (Author)

In the Double ABCX Model, family stress is defined as an imbalance in demands (the A factor: stressor event, related hardships, prior strains), and capabilities or resources (the B factor). The family's definition (C factor) of the imbalance influences its impact. When the family is unable to balance demands and capabilities without making a…

Nine questions about child abuse and neglect are answered in the booklet which is available in English and Spanish. Among facts revealed are the following: there are about 1 million cases of abuse yearly; there are four types of abuse and neglect (physical abuse, neglect, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse); abuse can be recognized by certain…

Care-givers, as a group, generally fare physically and emotionally as well or better than the population at large, at least in the early stages of their elderly relative's convalescent period. Fifty-one care-givers discussed their physical and emotional symptoms just as their relative was being discharged from a health facility and two months…

Identifies psychological and social effects of the economy on the family and on school-age children during periods of high unemployment and general economic distress. Proposals on how school counselors can assist children and their families during economically difficult times are suggested. (NRB)

Empirical knowledge of coping usage and coping effectiveness has lagged behind popular interest. To examine the effectiveness of specific coping efforts in a single role area--parenting--panel data from a large metropolitan population were examined. The same coping efforts were assessed using two criteria of effectiveness: the extent to which they…

Children of divorced parents may bring many problems along when they come to school. Teachers can recognize these troubles and help children learn to handle them. They may be able to help children better understand their feelings about their parents' divorce. (CJ)

Presents variables related to child abuse appearing in the research, and points out gaps of knowledge in this area. Social stresses exacerbate underlying personality difficulties and induce psychological problems by placing the individual under stress. Families facing stresses also are frequently involved in child abuse because they contain more…

Recent research indicates that basic indicators of quality of life have some consistent associations with mental health needs. Factors such as socioeconomic status, proportion of a population in poverty, unemployment and underemployment rates, family instability and family life cycle have persistent associations with social and economic stress and…

This study assessed the effectiveness of a brief group treatment program aimed at ameliorating some of the psychological reactions commonly seen in wives of alcoholics. The goals of the 8 week treatment program were: (1) to help wives identify their counterproductive attempts to cope with the alcoholism; (2) to develop constructive coping…

Through a literature review and a family systems analysis illustrated by four case studies, parricide is shown to be a logical culmination of factors--notably, severe abuse, the presence of guns, and family and community ignorance or denial of abuse. (Author/MP)

In two parts, this paper discusses areas in family disruption, describes children's experiences of loss, and suggests strategies for helping children cope with such experiences. Specifically, part one provides: (1) global, normative summary descriptions of adjustment patterns of children from preschool age through adolescence and descriptions of…