Teachers can help elementary students cope at the beginning of the school year by assisting them in getting to know one another. Writing is a good tool for bridging the gap between personal and school lives. The article suggests writing activities and explains how to create a good writing environment. (SM)

Literature review of cognitive, affective, behavioral, and somatic-psychological effects as a consequence of overwhelming life events in children and adolescents is compared with DSM-III-R definition of Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome. Responses likely in children and adolescents are discussed; suggestions for future research and counseling…

The relationship between self- and peer report on the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) (N. Endler and J. Parker, 1990) was studied with 163 pairs of friends (college students). Positive but modest correlations were found between peer and self-report for three types of coping. Findings that attenuate these correlations are…

Most children and parents use strategies that protect them from psychopathology in coping with cancer. Studies involving children with cancer, their parents, their perceptions, emotions, and coping strategies are reviewed. A psychosocial support model is proposed which may be helpful when support is needed with problems of adjustment. (Author/EMK)

With patience and savvy, superintendents can recover from the sting of dismissal. Incumbents should be alert to warning signs, such as decreasing board-superintendent communications and board rejection of superintendent recommendations. Sidebars offer tips on fighting back with good cause, obtaining legal support, and surviving the endgame. (MLH)

By controlling their time, superintendents can attend to their personal well-being and work priorities. Administrators should create a pleasure list, determine priorities, communicate politely yet firmly, learn to say no, discourage interferences, exercise regularly, ensure board compliance, budget quiet time, recognize limits to efficiency, and…

A study involving 64 Australian parents of children with mental retardation (ages 4-31) found no significant differences between mothers and fathers in terms of their general positivity-negativity, but that fathers were less represented by overall responses than mothers. Significant differences were also found between subgroups of mothers.…

Presents the Career Path Tournament, a game for heightening participants' awareness of sociological factors influencing career advancement and of the need to anticipate and cope with these factors. Presents evidence that the game raises awareness of sociological barriers and provides participants with suggestions for coping with these barriers.…

Examines problem disclosure and coping strategies in 21 foster adolescents. Highly significant results indicate that teenagers who have experienced crisis foster placements were more likely to disclose concerns. These young people also seemed more likely to use nonproductive coping strategies when dealing with everyday problems. (Author/JDM)

In-depth interviews were used to investigate how life is experienced by persons at age 85 (N=129) and again at 92 (N=41). Seven patterns of adjustment ranging from self-realization to withdrawal emerged, and heterogeneity remained at follow-up with some changes in the characteristics of the categories and in coping strategies. (Author/EMK)

A study examined principals' working conditions to identify key areas of job-related stress. Documentation of stressful incidents reported by five rural principals indicated that external- and internal-management sources of stress were equally frequent. The cycle of stressful experiences was more intense than a decade ago. Leadership…

A study explored transformations in the lives of 80 parents of children with disabilities. Results indicate that most parents reported many positive changes in their lives as a result of parenting a child with a disability, including personal growth, improved relations with others, and changes in philosophical or spiritual values. (Contains…

Provides strategies for reducing the risk of youth retreating into depression when faced with adversities in life, by helping them develop the building blocks of resilience (trust, autonomy, initiative, industry, identity). Reports that these building blocks have proven effective in fostering and strengthening resilience. (Author/JDM)

Describes a one-day psychoeducational group for survivors of a recent organizational downsizing. Principal goal of the group is to prevent "Layoff Survivor Syndrome" through instruction and group exercises designed to normalize common responses and increase awareness of positive coping strategies. Provides descriptions of group…

Assesses the correlation of burnout among community college nursing faculty members and their use of humor to mediate academic stress related to burnout. Differences in burnout between high versus low humor usage respondents showed a higher sense of personal accomplishment with high humor usage. Of those with low humor usage, workload was related…