Draws upon an interview with Louise Williamson, Director of the Children's Division of the Refugee Council, to examine care and welfare issues that should be dealt with separate from the legal process of seeking asylum, although in concert with legal procedures. Includes suggestions for improving existing practices, and a list of countries of…

Examined Los Angeles area middle school students' (N=54) stress, environmental stressors, and coping strategies. Results indicate the presence of gender differences, with girls indicating higher levels of stress; boys and girls reported different behavioral and affective responses to stress. School-related stressors were highest in frequency,…

Six personality measures, measures of stress, self-reported health status and coping, and a measure of social desirability were administered to samples of college students and adults (n=589) in a series of four studies. Correlations among these measures and evidence for a higher order factor called Health Proneness factor are discussed. (SLD)

Though research is exploratory, it suggests ways in which individuals' a priori beliefs in available social support might affect their reactions to new information and the mechanisms that could underlie the maintenance of these beliefs in light of that information. Evaluates implications for the stability of perceived support availability. (LSR)

Fifty-five mothers of young children with Down syndrome completed the Parenting Stress Index. Low internal reliability coefficient for the Adaptability/Plasticity Child Domain subscale was found. Factor analysis of the scale found that the Adaptability/Plasticity factor did not perform as a unidimensional structure, but provided information on…

Quantitative and qualitative measures from 19 parents and 19 siblings of children with learning disabilities showed that family functioning and self-concepts of siblings were comparable to those in families of nondisabled children but parents experienced greater stress than did parents of nondisabled children. Families also experienced…

Campus activities programmers are offered strategies for coping with overbearing administrators and a hostile work environment, and deciding when to resign, including building a support network within and outside the institution, becoming involved in the local community, drafting a letter of resignation, building personal savings, and choosing…

Two studies examined whether the relationship between the belief in a just world (BJW) and psychological well-being would benefit by distinguishing between the just world for self, for others, and in general. When various measures of the construct were examined jointly, only the BJW for self emerged as the most powerful and consistent predictor of…

Studied demographic characteristics, incidence, and levels of general life stress, burnout, and traumatic stress among a random sample of counselors (N=161). Younger counselors and those with the least amount of experience in trauma appeared more vulnerable to general stress and traumatic stress, respectively. Provides a profile of impaired…

Discusses school responses to changes in information technology, based on survey data and case studies of four school districts in Manitoba, Canada. Financial, administrative, and political issues appear to have dominated the agenda. Debates over priorities, costs, and expectations of teachers have been central. Information technology has not yet…

This longitudinal study examined relationships among 4 risk factors (social supports, maternal psychological adjustment, maternal preparation for parenting, and child temperament), maternal predisposition for aggressive coping, and maternal abuse potential in 75 adolescent mothers and their children. Preparation for parenting was most strongly…

This article describes common experiences of families following a child's brain injury, and offers specific strategies that might help families through the recovery/reentry process. These include education, family support and advocacy, family counseling, and home-school consultation. (DB)

A survey of 163 senior medical students attending a South Australian medical school found that rural students were more likely than urban students to experience stress; be concerned about getting a provider number (license); feel that consultants had little time for them; have made the decision to study medicine without pressure from others; and…

Examines the range of children's responses to traumatic events and identifies common symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Identifies protective and risk factors for PTSD. Discusses ways early childhood educators can provide a sense of security and regularity in their classrooms and use classroom activities to facilitate coping with…

Surveys of 43 student teachers taking a 9 week practicum in rural Australian primary schools and case studies of four of them found that student teacher stress diminished over time. Five coping strategies were identified: communicating with others, self help, relaxation/recreation, teaching and managing, and organization. (Contains 32 references.)…