Study compares 27 depressed clients diagnosed with Cluster C personality disorder (PD) with 87 depressed clients without the diagnosis. All clients completed cognitive-behavioral or psychodynamic-interpersonal psychotherapy. Treatment length did not influence outcome for PD clients. PD clients whose depression was also relatively severe showed…

This report on a survey of 224 home visitation programs that provide services for abused and neglected children and their families presents data on program characteristics, characteristics of home visits, credentials of home visitors, and program documentation procedures. Programs reported that training in parenting skills and parent coping were…

Thirty parents were surveyed on problems experienced following disclosure of extrafamilial sexual abuse when the perpetrator was known or related to the family. Findings related to depression, posttraumatic stress, marital satisfaction, relationship to child victims, and loss of significant relationships are discussed. Parental distress and…

This study examined relationships among maltreatment experience, therapeutic alliance formation, and treatment outcome among 38 psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents. Results indicated that maltreatment, multiplicity of maltreatment, and type of perpetrator were all associated with initial alliance difficulties. Severity of interpersonal…

Coping style and effects of counseling intervention on pain tolerance was studied for 61 elementary school students through immersion of hands in cold water. Bayesian predictive inference tools are able to distinguish between subject characteristics and manipulable treatments. Sensitivity analysis strengthens the certainty of conclusions about…

Mothers (n=235), ages 58 to 96, caring for adult offspring with mental retardation were interviewed. Four variables influenced their stage of permanency planning: (1) use of services for offspring, (2) non-use of avoidance coping, (3) self-perception of age-related changes, and (4) help from offspring without mental retardation. (Author/DB)

Considered variations in pubertal timing, specifically age at menarche, and association with various antecedents, including heredity; weight and weight for height; stressful life events; family relations; absence or presence of adult male in household; and psychological adjustment, in 75 premenarcheal adolescent girls. Found complex interactions…

Alternative measures and correlates of resilience were examined with 43 girls, ages 10 through 17, who were sexually abused. Interview responses indicated that the two strongest predictors of resilience were total level of abuse stressors experienced and the quality of the victim's relationship with a nonoffending parent. (Author/SW)

Describes investigation examining relationship between perceived levels of occupational stress and personal strain and coping resources among counselors. Results indicate counselors with higher levels of perceived occupational stress report significantly greater personal strain and fewer coping resources than do counselors perceiving lower levels…

As a result of the "risk society" (in which career and adult transitions are less orderly and predictable), young people have adopted various transition behaviors--strategic, step-by-step, taking chances, and wait-and-see--as they follow different paths: higher education, training for skilled or semiskilled occupations, unskilled…

Outlines what stepfamilies need from therapy and describes three important lessons other types of families can learn from remarriage families: dealing productively with losses and changes, accepting and appreciating differences, and enhancing relationships by increasing dyadic interactions. (Author)

Mental health professionals (n=132) living in Hong Kong were surveyed about existential aspects of burnout. Purpose in life and motivation to seek purpose were found to be significant existential correlates of burnout whereas the former correlated with personal accomplishment and the latter with emotional exhaustion. Results varied by professional…

This exploratory study assessed whether mental disability stigma can be usefully investigated by looking at parental (n=131) stress and (1) deviating characteristics of the child and (2) distressing reactions of others. Stress was found to be significantly associated with parents exhibiting either controlled affect or dissociation modes of coping.…

Evaluation of 11 children from 5 exile families with at least 1 parent having been subjected to torture found children were anxious, depressive, and regressive with psychosomatic symptoms, sleep disorders, and family and school problems. Coping strategies including isolation and withdrawal, mental flight, eagerness to acclimatize, and strength of…

This study of 27 couples with preschool children with disabilities found that mothers who continue over 3-5 years to ask why their child is disabled experience lower levels of well-being and that fathers who do not externalize blame to someone else or to fate experience higher levels of well-being. (Author/JDD)