Describes and evaluates five comprehensive premarital assessment questionnaires that can be used in high school, university, and church settings by family life educators and premarital counselors. Major premarital assessments reviewed vary in coverage of premarital factors, number of items, and cost. These factors must be considered by counselors…

Experienced teams competing in multiple adventure activities, several of which involved ropes, kept their harnesses on all day. Safety procedures included an initial check of buckles and harnesses by an instructor, but failed to recognize that participants would remove their harnesses for toilet purposes. Lists other possible safety errors for…

Challenges leading crime theories by arguing that it is not possible to fully distinguish between different crime theories by focusing on the effect of their independent variables. Argues that such crime theories are best distinguished in terms of their specification of crime motives. Such motives may be positive or negative. Discusses these…

Public policy initiatives should focus on preventive measures such as premarriage education to assist people in developing healthy family life. Outcomes of an Australian program support the efficacy of such preparation rather than after-the-fact coping with crisis. (SK)

Aggression against others violates the care and connectedness implicit in African American racial identity and community culture. Reconnecting youth to communal values and traditions of identity and solidarity may be the solution to youth violence. (SK)

Disciplinary measures based on social control produce prison-like schools that remain unsafe. Coercive strategies disrupt learning and foster an environment of mistrust and resistance. Humanizing the environment and encouraging responsibility and a sense of community are possible solutions. (SK)

Compares and contrasts the contributions of various prevention models toward the theoretical reduction of suicide in the general population, and explores conceptual frameworks used to understand population-level risk factors. First-order and second-order targets of change in prevention efforts are defined and examples provided. (JPS)

Suicide prevention initiatives at the national level are most likely to impact the largest numbers of citizens. Canada lays some claim for recognition in the general field of suicide prevention as a result of a 1974 federal document focusing on health promotion. The authors discuss innovations and problems occurring in the various Canadian…

Reviews literature on burnout and its prevention among caregivers to dying. Concludes that health care providers working with dying experience stressors unique to their specialty but also experience stressors common to other health care workers. Summarizes external and internal stressors common to specialty field and offers suggestions for…

Considers educational and counseling issues related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Advises educators and counselors to examine both characteristics and determinants of human behavior, direct efforts at individuals and communities, work respectfully in all communities to produce human change, and foster individual and group pride. Sees…

Describes development, implementation, and evaluation of a model abuse prevention curriculum designed for nursing assistants. Findings from the evaluation are presented that showed high satisfaction with the program and improvement on a number of indicators, including reduced conflict with and abuse of residents. (Author)

Examined behavioral changes subsequent to participation in community-based juvenile delinquency prevention program. Surveyed parents (or parent-surrogates) of 18 juvenile clients. Improved school achievement was reported by 77.8% of parents; 72.2% saw increase in children's interest in school. Other areas perceived as improved included willingness…

Introductory article to this theme issue on child safety indicates that injury from accidents is principal childhood public health problem of the United States and notes it is an epidemic that can be controlled through targeted prevention strategies such as parent education to enhance home and school safety. (SM)

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons launched a national public education campaign focusing on the problem of injuries related to playground equipment. The article presents several of its recommendations for playground safety and provides instructions for obtaining a free brochure. (SM)

The health care system should focus on health promotion and disease prevention; the nursing curriculum should be revised to reflect this emphasis. (SK)