Examines relationships among caregivers' internal resourcefulness, demands of caregiving situations, and caregivers' self-reported coping behaviors relative to changes in dysphoric affect. Primary caregivers of the frail elderly (n=143) completed several measures approximately 4 months apart. Decreased dysphoric affect among caregivers was linked…

Describes a program that bonds high-risk students to school as a basis of developing positive behavior and an ethic of social responsibility and service. The bonding is seen as essential to the process of building social and academic skills in at-risk youth. (Author)

Explores some of the junctures at which the study of social stress might benefit from life course perspectives and, conversely, those at which life course research might profitably employ the vantage points of stress research. (SNR)

Pupils with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) fear the unknown and changes to their routine. Their fears may be unexpected, such as what is for breakfast. "Social stories" can alleviate such fears by giving a detailed account of each day's activities. A case study shows how a social story in diary form helped a boy with ASD cope with an outdoor…

Students (N=40) whose loved one had died by suicide in the past two years, were assessed as to whether writing projects lessen their grief. All participants competed pre- and posttest measures of grief. Determined that writing about grief associated with suicide of a loved one appeared to reduce suicidal grief but did not extend to general grief…

In this article, the mother of 12-year-old son with autism shares two stories that highlight how her son keeps her humble and how asking for help mutually benefits the giver and receiver. It discusses the need to tell people your needs and to invite them to participate in your life. (CR)

Reports on curricula adjustments after the 1997 Red River Flood forced schools to end the academic year five weeks early. Fifty-seven teachers from five elementary schools in Grand Forks (North Dakota) answered the study questionnaire. Finds that, following the flood, teachers spent more time reviewing material from the previous year and helping…

A court-mandated parent education course aimed at reducing effects of divorce on children was evaluated by 1,400 participants over 5 years. Most respondents highly recommended the course and said it helped them become aware of their children's point of view and how to prevent long-term emotional problems. (SK)

Examined the relations of teachers' and parents' reports of children's shyness at ages 6-8, 8-10, and 10-12 years to dispositional regulation, emotionality, and coping. The overall pattern of findings was partially consistent with the conclusion that parent-rated shyness reflected primarily social wariness with unfamiliar people, whereas…

Describes an adventure educator's experiences with risk taking and "extreme" skiing as a way to adapt to his progressive deafness and deal with real life situations such as working, communicating, and making his marriage work. Discusses Beethoven's deafness and the practice of taking small, chosen risks to gain skill and confidence to…

Many counselors attend graduate courses and seminars on the treatment of child abuse and neglect. Educators and trainers need to focus on the feelings and reactions elicited from exposure to the content of these courses. This article provides information on the impact of learning about the trauma of child abuse. (Author)

This paper reviews research on the positive perceptions and experiences of other members in families with children with developmental disabilities. It also proposes a model for further study based on the hypothesis that positive perceptions function as strategies that help families adapt to or cope with the experiences of raising a child with…

Investigated grief issues in first-semester female students. Found that in-state students who had not visited home experienced more severe grief responses, that higher grievers earned significantly lower grades and returned for the spring semester in fewer numbers, and that high grievers, regardless of ethnicity, evidenced more pessimism and more…

Many camp professionals wonder how the events of September 11 will affect their camps. Advice is given on dealing with concerns of parents, campers, staff, and directors. Stability is comforting--change only what is absolutely necessary. Compassion and inclusion, the behaviors modeled at camp, are antidotes to misunderstanding and marginalization,…

Using an ecological risk-protection perspective, explores functional changes in single African American mothers (N=96) receiving government assistance. Examines links among maternal employment, mothers' physical and psychological health, and children's attributions about causes of poverty. Maternal psychological distress was linked with children's…