A study examined the effect of a 1-day outdoor experiential training orientation on graduate students' perceptions of stress. Fifty-seven first-year veterinary medicine students were surveyed before the fall semester and during final exam period. Several mood states, including anxiety-tension, vigor-activity, and depression-dejection were…

Eight guidelines are suggested for incorporating a contemporary issues curriculum into special education programs so that students with disabilities have the knowledge and skills to make responsible, informed life choices. Examples of possible contemporary issues are listed, and a table lists different methods of addressing contemporary issues.…

Reviews and synthesizes recent literature on social problems in the lives of adolescents, including depression, suicide, substance abuse, sexual activity, sexually transmitted diseases, rape, sexual preference, and school dropout. Explores key factors in effective intervention and prevention programs for students with and without learning…

Qualitative methods were used to examine experiences of 12 successful college students with learning disabilities. The participants reported social problems, difficulty with teachers, and frustration with certain academic areas, sometimes resulting from the interaction of their high ability and learning disabilities. Participants successfully…

Summarizes selected ERIC documents, journal articles, and World Wide Web resources that discuss ways to help children deal with traumatic events, both natural and human-caused, including the effects of terrorism. (DLH)

Examined through mail surveys of youth, parents, and social workers the predictive value of selected risk and protective factors in explaining self-sufficiency skills of 219 ethnically diverse 12- to 15-year-olds in foster care. Found that protective factors related to greater self-sufficiency skills, and risk factors were negatively associated.…

Presents ways parents and other adults can help young children deal with tragedy and violence in the wake of terrorist attacks on the United States. Suggests giving reassurance and physical comfort, providing structure and stability, expecting a range of reactions, helping children to talk if they are ready, turning off the television, and…

Studied parent, child, and marital attributes to explore factors that are most closely tied to levels of overall family functioning in households containing young developmentally disabled children. Surveyed 88 families using in-home interviews of parents. Found that level of family functioning had no relationship to specific child attributes but…

Adult educators can help students cope with stress by (1) designing programs that are responsive to stress factors; (2) including information on stress effects in orientation sessions; (3) developing individualized programs of study; (4) integrating education into students' work and other life roles; (5) providing personal attention, advising, and…

Social problem solving and cognitive style (field independence/field dependence) were studied in a sample of 70 elementary and secondary teachers taking a summer course in counseling. Protocol analysis was used to identify the variety of problem-solving methods applied to social problems. (SLD)

Measures the effectiveness of a medically oriented educational game in increasing knowledge and decreasing young children's fears regarding common medical procedures. Paired t-tests indicated a significant increase in children's knowledge of health care concepts and decrease in fear of medical procedures after the game was played. (BB)

Discusses ways in which preschool and other grade-level teachers can help children of alcoholic parents cope with their problems. (BB)

Provides advice to single parents on ways to help their preadolescent children get in touch with their feelings and prepare for positive life experiences. The advice is highlighted with a case study. (BB)

Discusses children's understanding of death during early and middle childhood. Describes four basic considerations (communication, acceptance, routine, and reactions) that apply to all situations with bereaved children. Looks at situation-specific reactions to terminally ill classmate, parental death, death of sibling, death of friend or relative,…

Research demonstrates that children develop psychological "resilience" through the fostering of certain protective factors in their lives. Youth programs can promote development of these protective factors by helping children build attachments to adults and others and develop social competence and by providing meaningful participation in…