Two cohorts of Australian preservice teachers provided information on their teaching practicum concerns and the coping strategies they used. Survey data indicated there were significant reductions in stress from the first to the second practicum. Students' principal coping strategy was seeking the support of the supervising teacher, which…

Describes factors affecting the life-span achievement of 15 highly accomplished African-American women. Participants perceived that civil-rights and affirmative-action polices opened doors if they were already qualified. Findings suggest cultural strengths plus high ability enabled simultaneous acknowledgment of discrimination and application of…

Describes the establishment and development of a support group for the parents of children infected and/or affected by HIV infection. The group is hospital-based, meeting monthly since April 1992, facilitated by professionals but with a self-help and peer support emphasis. Explains the planning, setting, and running of the group. Identifies…

Reports a study that examined the relationship between high school students' smoking under stress, psychological distress, and social support. Survey data indicated that white students were more likely to engage in stress-related smoking than black students, as were adolescents with higher psychological distress and lower social support scores.…

Discusses reasons child care facilities close, such as competition, funding, population changes, and size. Provides suggestions for a smooth transition when a center closes, including having a written plan, being open and available to parents and staff, recognizing associated stress, allowing time to adjust, having a timeline for necessary tasks,…

A study investigated the effects of major social, economic, and political disruption on the perceptions of 232 Cape Breton (Nova Scotia) teachers concerning their professional lives and identities. Teachers believed they were transmitters of information and values, but felt that those outside the school did not understand the stresses and nuances…

Examines the patterns of individual adjustment changes in a sample of 99 early adolescents during an ecological transition from elementary school to middle school. Shows significant changes in adjustment as indicated by increased psychological distress or decreased academic achievement. Examines gender differences. Presents implications for…

A survey of 984 mothers in Bavaria of young children with disabilities investigated their views regarding cooperation and what they expect to achieve from parent-expert partnerships. Results indicate dialoguing with professionals and model learning during intervention is the most helpful way for parents to learn how to cope with their child.…

The society and the counseling profession are in a curious and confused period that envelopes a great racial divide alongside a greater racial understanding. Counselor educators want to be part of the solution. This personal narrative recounts experiences and understandings the author has gained of racism. (EMK)

A qualitative review of the seventeen narrative accounts in this issue of personal experiences with racism is reported. Discussion includes the "indelible marks" of racism, counselors as social change agents, and counselor training programs. A critical thinking model is presented to help professionals and students to deconstruct racism.…

Discusses the stress factors involved in moving overseas to teach, or in returning home after an overseas assignment. Includes warning signs of relocation stress, such as becoming fearful of new situations, being reluctant to talk about the move, and finding excessive fault with new people or places. (Contains 15 references.) (NB)

An examination of the literature on the characteristics of at-risk students largely cites demographics, socio-economic factors and minority status as identifying factors (DeRidder, 1988; Green and Scott, 1995; Peng, Lee, and Walberg, 1992; Rodriguez, 1997). According to the National Center for Education Statistics (1994), minority students of low…

Background: Recent theories of stress and coping in parents of children with intellectual disabilities (ID) emphasize the importance of cognitive appraisals in influencing parents' levels of stress and their adaptations to difficulties presented by the children. This study investigated the relationships between parental cognitions, child…

This article examines themes of academic resilience in the descriptions of academic achievement by three students at Benjamin High School, one of the least affluent high schools in Bayside, Florida. Through ethnographically informed interviews conducted during their senior year, coherent themes emerge that provide insight into these students'…

Background: Functional impairment is a key feature of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) of childhood. Aim: To compare impairment, illness attitudes and coping mechanisms in childhood CFS and in other paediatric disorders. Method: Participants were 28 children and adolescents with CFS, 30 with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and 27 with emotional…