Two major classes of environmental stressors have been examined in life stress research: major life events and minor everyday hassles. To compare these two classes of stressors along with two stressful life events (threatened job loss and reorganization of the work setting), and to investigate the buffering effect of coping responses on…

The problem of human response to loss is complex. To approach understanding of this process it is valuable to use a number of models. Phenomenologically the application of a temporal matrix divides the reaction into three useful heuristic and empirical stages: initial, acute grief (1-3 months); mourning (1-2 years); and post-mourning, with no set…

There are practical steps that board members can take to prevent the waste of teacher power that results from burnout. These steps involve teacher renewal, effective time management, and creative inservice programs that promote continued professional growth. The first step in teacher renewal is to help teachers increase their self-knowledge and…

Describes the effect of various kinds of stresses on the organization of children's thinking, and the uniqueness of children's individual responses to these stresses. (CM)

Found responses to open-ended coping questions asked of 100 older participants in Second Duke Longitudinal Study were commonly religious in nature. For at least one of three stressful periods inquired about, 45 percent of sample mentioned religious coping behavior. Subject characteristics refuted view of religion as relevant only to the poor and…

A recent study explored the relative frequencies and intensity levels of selected stressors on Georgia public secondary school principals and the coping strategies they found most effective. In order of most to least frequently used behaviors, Georgia principals reported physical, mental, psychological, direct, and destructive strategies. Some…

Uses recent findings in fear research to develop a paradigm for using and reducing levels of fear through outdoor adventure recreation. Includes tables showing components of fear in outdoor adventure activities, factor analysis of fears in outdoor environment, means of fear items, and fear modification techniques. (NEC)

Presents the concept of bibliotherapy and discusses the value of books--particularly modern fiction and poetry--for helping individuals to cope with death and other personal crises. Several specific titles are recommended for adults. (MES)

Examined process of self-efficacy expectation development, coping with difficult task, and task performance using job interview task with 78 subjects. Results suggest self-efficacy theory generalizes to a career-related task, and that emotion-focused coping mediates the relationship between self-efficacy expectations and perceived performance, but…

Results of a survey of widowed men indicated that loneliness was the primary problem area, and secondary areas dealt with domestic chores and the acceptance of loss. A "balanced coping strategy" utilizing a diversity of available resources seems to provide the most support for men in weathering this life crisis. (Author/BL)

Proposed guidelines for mental health clinicians in assessing clients' divorce-related concerns. Current empirical information on factors affecting individual and family adjustment after divorce is organized into a practical format for clinical application. Details a comprehensive assessment that will help the clinician to understand the client's…

Examined relations among trait anxiety, coping types, career decision making, and state anxiety related to career decision making. Trait anxiety and low sense of personal efficacy (not using Type II coping) were the primary predictors of career undecidedness. (Author/BL)

Discusses supervisee resistance as a defensive response to perceived threat. Coping strategies which interfere with the learning process are seen as resistance. Enumerates various forms of resistant behavior; explores possible sources of threat that may arouse these behaviors, and proposes a step-by-step model for dealing with resistance in…

Forty children aged nine to twelve years who exhibited moderate to high dental anxiety were randomly assigned to a group rehearsing coping strategies for stress and anxiety or to a placebo condition. The coping condition was more effective than the placebo in reducing self-report anxiety. (Author/LHW)

Vietnam combat veterans diagnosed as having Postraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) differed significantly in the intensity of their combat experiences and their perceptions of their homecoming experiences from controls who were also combat veterans. Neither early history nor immediate preservice factors differentiated the two groups. (Author/KS)