Humor cannot solve every problem facing school administrators, but it can reduce the psychological gap between boss and staff, create camaraderie, increase problem-solving abilities, and help people cope. Administrators can look for humor, find a model, develop perspective, get support, revamp the office environment, start a "funny" file, swap…

Examined dating relationships for 280 college freshmen. Made comparisons of self-esteem, mastery, use of coping strategies, and preference of negotiation styles between individuals in violent and nonviolent dating relationships. Findings indicated that negotiation style of Negative Affect and coping strategies of Confrontation and Social Support…

This paper on underachievement in gifted students distinguishes between environmental, personal-neurological, and personal-psychological causes of underachievement. Characteristics of gifted underachievers are described, and strategies to change the pattern of the "personal-psychological" underachiever are discussed, with emphasis on coping…

Investigated relationship between interpersonal problems, coping style, and suicide risk among 71 adult psychiatric inpatients. Patients admitted with history of suicidal attempts were compared with patients admitted for other reasons. Interpersonal problems were significantly and positively related to suicide risk. Coping style of suppression was…

Examined achieving styles, coping strategies, and feminist attitudes of 125 prominent, highly achieving black and white women. Both similarities and differences between black and white women were found, and achieving styles were significantly related to other variables. Findings suggest that personal standards for excellence were salient…

Expressions of disengagement and depictions of life review in novels and poetry are used to illustrate strategies of coping with loss and diminishment in old age. Novels include "An Imaginary Life,""Adele at the End of the Day," and "The Remains of the Day." (SK)

Interviews with 10 rural elderly residents with less than elementary education had the following findings: (1) they were motivated to change by desire to satisfy coping and expressive needs; (2) earlier means of compensating for lack of literacy skills were not effective in later years; and (3) lack of adequate literacy skills negatively affected…

Healthy Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) seropositive undergraduates (n=57) completed personality inventory, provided blood samples, and were randomly assigned to write/talk about stressful events, or to write about trivial events. Those assigned to verbal/stressful condition had significantly lower EBV antibody titers (suggesting better cellular immune…

Examined relationships among family stress, family capabilities, and health status of 53 children diagnosed with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Found that higher levels of family stress and lower levels of family resources were significantly associated with poor metabolic control. Findings suggest that family stress and resources are…

Examined how strategies to manage dementia problems in 152 older people were associated with adjustment of family members while providing assistance to relative. Identified three dementia management strategies (criticism, encouragement, and active management) that were associated with three indices of family members' emotional adjustment (burden,…

Results of a follow-up study of older adults (n=27) who one year earlier had participated in relaxation training to cope with tension and anxiety supported the efficacy of relaxation training for elderly persons with subjective anxiety. (Author/NB)

Used qualitative research design to apply role exit theory to adult women students (n=221) undergoing life transition. Findings suggest that role of student for these women is transitional one. Student role appeared to be bridge to new role and women used it to complete role exit process or to bring closure and deal with respective life…

Examined the relative efficacy of different treatment approaches for bulimia nervosa. Follow-up of a study using cognitive-behavioral, behavioral, and placebo groups show six-month abstinence highest in the cognitive behavioral group. Results support conceptualization of bulimia nervosa as a multifaceted disorder best treated with an approach that…

Uses six types of family-of-origin frames (coping, modeling, role, definition, reversal, and loyalty frames) in understanding three common couple interactional situations: pursuing/distancing, overfunctioning/underfunctioning, and blaming/placating. Uses clinical examples to illustrate process of constructing family-of-origin frames in couples…

Uses experience of African-American families to inform European-American postdivorce families, including stepfamilies. Suggests strategies and coping mechanisms that stem from pedi-focal definition of family and are used in African-American families for postdivorce families to aid in their struggles with welfare of dependent children, confusion…