A coping process model is offered as a guide to the construction of intervention and planning programs for the mentally retarded. Current conceptions and measurement of adaptive behavior focus on whether or not a person handled a problem well, not how the person handles the problem situation. The paper views coping behavior as the process of…

A representative sample of the adult population of the United States was asked: "If you had a fatal illness would you want to be told about it, or not?" Of the people interviewed, 9 out of 10 said they would like to be told. Implications for medical treatment are discussed. (Author)

Provides a list of the causes of stress in a principal's job and then a list of steps a principal can take to cope with them. (IRT)

Examined how successfully an environmental simulation technique could provide older people with a working knowledge of an unknown building. Compared three groups of participants: site visit (n=20); simulation (n=20); and control (n=20). Found simulation comparable to site visits in instilling confidence in way-finding ability, providing a mental…

Presents results of a 1985 survey to identify the occupational stressors and stress-coping preferences of 212 secondary school principals from excellent schools. Primary stressors are task-based; preferred coping strategies are discussing concerns with colleagues, delegating tasks to others, and taking work home. Principals must improve planning…

Highlights the complexities of treating eating disorders and provides a theoretical framework for identification, diagnosis, and treatment of anorexia and bulimia. (Author)

Smokers who had received smoking cessation treatment of rapid smoking and behavioral counseling were assigned to one of two maintenance treatments. Treatments included coping-response and Pavlovian-exposure training. One added massed exposure to cigarettes, the other added nonmaintenance control condition. Both forms of maintenance reduced relapse…

Surgery patients (N=24) were randomly assigned either to a stress inoculation intervention or to a standard hospital instructions control. The results demonstrated the utility of stress inoculation training in providing surgical patients with a self-regulation technique to reduce their experiences of anxiety and pain and to improve their…

Responses of 218 urban husbands and wives and 202 rural husbands and wives were used to test the hypotheses that these two populations would use different coping strategies to deal with the stressors they faced in their different environments and that women would use different strategies than men. Neither hypothesis was supported. (Author/BL)

Describes a job maintenance training program, Vocational Coping Training (VCT), a small-group employability intervention combining cognitive and behavioral strategies to assess and enhance work establishment skills. (Author/BL)

Guidelines are offered for helping deaf children understand and cope with death. Implications for children under 3 to 10 and over are noted. Counseling suggestions are listed for helping bereaved children. (CL)

A music therapist describes a learning packet designed to teach elementary students to deal with anger. The package included 10 lessons using visual art, dance, music, and drama. (CL)

Examined the relationship between locus of control and psychological disorder in chronic pain patients (N=59) through administration of Rotter's Internal-External Locus of Control Scale and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. Results suggested that both anxiety and a response set affect this population's rating of ability to control…

Investigated burnout levels and coping strategies of 162 superintendents of public residential facilities for mentally retarded persons. Results indicated that mean overall burnout scores tended to be lower than those reported for other human service employees. Superintendents tended to favor direct/active strategies for coping with stressors.…

Similarities and differences between two cry clinics in Canada and New Zealand are offered, an example of a typical first session is provided, and some current issues are raised. (Author/KS)