This article addresses the effects of disasters on elementary-age children and their needs for mental health. Suggests possible school-based interventions and provides a case study of a traumatized first-grader, demonstrating how child- centered play therapy can be used in school settings. (Contains 57 references.) (GCP)

Describes a day-long group program to help children with medical conditions deal with teasing and to increase self-confidence. Reports preliminary program evaluation results, indicating that most children retained the knowledge skills acquired in the program and appeared to be using these effectively in coping with teasing 12 to 16 weeks later.…

Administered pre- and postmeasures to 12 participants in 8-session group intervention program designed to teach coping skills to recently separated and divorced adults and to 12 waiting-list controls. Results indicated that intervention promoted reduced depression and anxiety, greater ability to live in present, greater independence, more…

Hearing-impaired students (n=324) in grades 9-11 were administered the Adolescent-Coping Orientation for Problem Experiences. The measure was found to be valid and reliable for measuring subjects' coping skills and for assessing students' suitability for various types of educational placements. (Author/JDD)

Investigated relationship of mild depression, stress, and coping based on Lazarus's model of stress and coping. Examined two coping styles (problem and emotion focused), two measures of stress, and mild depression in college students (N=227). Found mildly depressed persons relied more on emotion-focused coping and experience more stress than did…

Examined relations between psychiatric disorder and coronary heart disease (CHD) in 77 patients with chest pain, and compared coping profiles of chest pain patients with and without psychiatric disorders and CHD. Psychiatric patients with no medical disease were also studied. Results are discussed in the context of illness behavior and…

Examined degree to which self-reported functional disability and coping efforts contributed to psychological adjustment among 45 rheumatoid arthritis patients over six months. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that increases in disability were related to decreased acceptance of illness and increased negative affect, while coping…

Considers stress management and coping studies in health care insufficiently grounded in theory; researchers have not adequately considered demands presented by stressor under study. Explores this theme in five areas: (1) effectiveness of problem- versus emotion-focused coping strategies; (2) effectiveness of interventions; (3) role of individual…

Examined effectiveness of cognitive intervention to help adolescents cope with stress and negative emotional arousal. Compared youth receiving training (N=9) with waiting list control group (N=12) in hypothetical stress situations. Results showed significant reductions in levels of anxiety and anger, improvement in self-esteem, and increase in…

When teaching victimized children, teachers should (1) be consistent; (2) build success; (3) teach survival, coping, and communication skills; (4) allow students to be students; (5) provide pleasurable experiences; (6) build self-esteem; and (7) use bibliotherapy to help students gain insight. (SK)

As violence and suicide increase in our society, educators are helping students, staff members, and families cope with the sudden loss of a peer or child. Pragmatic intervention strategies can help survivors deal with their reactions to sudden death and posttraumatic stress disorders. Counseling techniques are also outlined. (MLH)

Randomly assigned 96 persons from inpatient alcoholism treatment program to aftercare group treatment consisting of either coping skills training or interactional therapy. Found that coping skills training was more effective for subjects higher in sociopathy or psychopathology; interactional therapy was more effective for subjects lower in…

Compared 135 participants in the Forum, large group awareness training intervention, and 73 comparable peer-nominated controls. Subjects completed detailed questionnaires 4-6 weeks pre- and posttraining and again 18 months later. Short-term outcome analyses revealed that only perceived control was affected by Forum participation; no long-term…

An academic anxiety coping scale was developed and tested to ascertain if students tend to employ functional or dysfunctional coping behavior in response to stressful evaluative situations. (Author/TE)

Investigates the theory that differences in well-being and emotional distress may be a function of gender-role socialization--especially the masculine sex role orientation. Findings indicate that sex role socialization is related to differences in occupational strain and coping, and that the masculine orientation has adaptive significance for the…