This study comparing 70 gifted children (ages 5-14) with 2 control groups revealed that emotional problems were not the result of gifted ability per se but of other disturbing matters such as others' expectations or family conflict. Academic underachievement was related to self-concept; gifted children's greater sensitivity was usually…

Developing coping skills for preventing substance abuse and promoting interaction and role modeling among older and younger children were the goals of the P.I.E.D. (People Involved in Education about Drugs) Pipers project. Nurses taught content to student trainees who presented information to peers and younger children. (SK)

Notes that art therapy with pediatric cancer patients addresses emotional and developmental needs of normal population under extreme stress. Reviews literature on the problems likely to be encountered by pediatric cancer patient and presents case examples to illustrate the emergence of these issues and their management in art therapy. (Author/NB)

Responses from 325 senior state government employees showed that pressure for change was linked to stress, dissatisfaction, and intention to leave. Psychological hardiness had a negative impact on stress and a positive impact on satisfaction. Hardiness may serve as a significant counterforce to the effects of pressure. (SK)

The direct and moderating effects of coping mechanisms used by 314 spouses in dual-income marriages were examined. The direct effects of coping on well-being were minimal; however, coping moderated several effects of role conflict and role overload on spouse's well-being. (JPS)

Describes strategies to counteract aggressive responses when students exhibit aggressive behaviors. Promising practices include the conflict cycle, self-management, components of life space interviewing, anger replacement training, and relationship technology. (JPS)

One group of professionals among whom stress and burnout are particularly prevalent is nurses. A study of inpatient nurses (n=20) and outpatient nurses (n=10) revealed that group team building was effective in improving both morale and job satisfaction while decreasing burnout among the higher-stress group of outpatient nurses. (JPS)

Examines the degree to which an individual's propensity to experience emotional distress and restraint are predictive of grief intensity in a sample of older widow(er)s (n=51). Characteristic distress was found to be a significant predictor of present grief intensity, whereas repressive defensiveness was found to predict past grief, as recalled…

Coping styles of 50 learning-disabled and non-learning-disabled adolescents and their parents were compared. Learning-disabled adolescents showed less ability to appraise a source of stress and to seek information about their stressful situations and showed greater pessimism about academic concerns. Coping patterns of parents did not clearly…

Tested model of managerial women's (n=249) stress. Model was developed from Lazarus's theoretical framework of stress/coping and incorporated causal antecedent constructs (demographics, sex role attitudes, agentic traits), mediating constructs (environment, appraisals, engagement coping, disengagement coping), and outcomes (work performance,…

Examined psychological adjustment to sickle cell disease (SCD) among 109 African-American adults. Good psychological adjustment was associated with lower levels of perceived daily stress and stress regarding SCD illness tasks, higher efficacy expectations, less use of palliative coping methods and negative thinking/passive adherence pain-coping…

Reviews experimental and quasi-experimental studies of psychological interventions designed to help individuals diagnosed with cancer reduce emotional distress, enhance coping, and improve their adjustment to the illness. Treatment components and mechanisms are discussed. Future research directions and challenges to scientific advance are…

Surveyed chief student affairs officers (n=59) concerning sources of stress. Examined environmental changes and physiological and psychological coping strategies used by the administrators. Found differences in feelings about stress between men and women with death or serious illness ranking first for women and new supervisor for men. Coping…

Examines how interacting with a friend as opposed to a stranger in anticipation of a stressful event (giving an extemporaneous speech) affects college students' coping. Finds that subjects perceived more social support after interacting with a friend than with a stranger. Describes specific verbal and nonverbal behaviors contributing to successful…

Describes a Levittown (New York) elementary principal's strategy for handling a permanent school closure resulting from unfavorable demographic trends, rising taxes, and drastic cutbacks in state aid. All students were given tours of a newly created middle school or alternative elementary schools, and K-4 students participated in pen pal exchanges…