Current theory suggests that middle-aged adults are becoming burdened with the responsibilities of caring for both parents and children as a result of changing sociodemographic trends, and that this trend may adversely affect caregivers' well-being. Using a national sample (n=2,033) of married persons, it is found that this change has little…

Study of 72 displaced engineers in a retraining program showed that better training performance led to more successful employment outcomes; higher career motivation was related to lower training behavior and outcomes; and more experienced workers were less able to cope with change and had less positive outcomes. (SK)

Advises beginning school financial officers to know their own limits and capabilities; review district records, prior years' audit reports, financial statements, and budget documents; examine board of education policy; establish a calendar of events; keep their staff informed; and develop information contacts. They should also pursue continuing…

In contrast to attempted suicide rates of 9-12% among adolescents in community-based studies, attempted suicide was reported by 39% of 138 self-identified gay and bisexual adolescent males presenting in a social service agency for lesbian and gay adolescents. Findings suggest that gay youths are at increased risk for attempting suicide. (TJQ)

Investigated relations among maternal cognitive coping style (approach-avoidance), affective state, and sensitivity among 56 mothers and their young children with Down syndrome over a 2-year period. Found that mothers with a strong tendency to monitor stressors reported greater affective distress than did mothers who adopted a less vigilant coping…

Reports results of a study of 187 nurses about stressful occupational episodes and the coping strategies and perceived controllability for each, controlling for negative affectivity. Effectiveness of coping was measured across three dimensions: perceived coping effectiveness, job affect, and psychological adjustment. Discusses implication of…

Explored marital adjustment and the effects of illness in a sample of 46 married couples in which 1 or both spouses are chronically ill. The levels of cohesion obtained across all spouse pairs indicate exceptionally tight bonding between spouses; however, the level of consensus suggests conflict, disagreement, and strife. (JPS)

Dutch schools experience three types of violence: interpupil violence, aggression between teachers and pupils, and violence resulting from outside criminal influences. When confronting school violence, educators must confront three pedagogical paradoxes. The school can only partly compensate for bad societal influences, since other institutions…

This study measured current perceptions of stress of mothers (n=35) of children with mental retardation and compared these to their recollections of the initial diagnosis. Analysis revealed that more subjects with low stress scores had their spouse present at the time of diagnosis and recalled positive suggestions offered by the attending…

Results of 2 studies suggested that 11- and 12-year-old children's appraisals of marital conflict are influenced by the content, intensity, and cause of the conflict; and that the meaning of marital conflict to children is an important determinant of its impact on them. (MDM)

After being shadowed by her new superintendent for one hectic workday, a veteran elementary school principal learned she had high blood pressure and needed to flex her management style. She was advised to delegate more responsibilities, write about her practice, schedule only half her workday, and provide balance in her life. (MLH)

Tested whether positive automatic thoughts (PATs) and PATs x Negative Events interaction predicted unique variance in future depression and happiness. Findings from 152 college students revealed that PATs predicted happiness, and PATs about self-worth interacted with negative events to predict depression. For higher levels of such PATs, negative…

Professional who works with at-risk youth reflects on his own childhood, his mother's series of marriages, and his removal from his family at age eight. Describes odyssey of 15 placements in 11 years in family foster homes, group homes, and various institutions, such as orphanages and detention homes. Identifies number of factors that contributed…

Notes that some children emerge from traumatic, abusive experience with a resilience that enables them to survive and to cope with the stress. Contends that these resilient adolescents provide an untapped resource for peer counseling programs. Describes peer counseling and discusses skill development, training, and personal growth associated with…

Describes sociocultural factors germane to African American families. Analyzes the African American family system and its inherent strengths. Presents a family strengths model of adjustment to disability for African American clients and potential applications of the model to the adjustment process. Includes 29 citations. (Author/CRR)