Describes the illness and death of a young boy enrolled in an early childhood program. Discusses how maintaining open communication, sharing genuine reactions, talking with parents and a clinical psychologist, sharing carefully chosen books, and supporting the child and his family throughout the experience were helpful in coping with this event.…

Examines the problem of blacks practicing a self-imposed segregation in colleges and universities. The paper argues that self-segregation appears to be a defense mechanism to insulate black students from the harsh realities of institutional racism. (GR)

Research suggests several types of test-anxious students. Techniques for lessening anxiety include teaching metacognitive and learning strategies, using cooperative learning activities, and creating a nonthreatening environment. A survey of 102 developmental reading college students indicated that teacher behavior during testing and pretest review…

Compared the transitions to adoptive and biological parenthood. Adoptive parents had more positive expectations and satisfying experiences than biological parents. Expectations and depressive mood predicted parental experiences for both groups; ego strength for biological parents; and feelings of deprivation, social support, and self-concept for…

Reported stressors and patterns of coping strategies of 484 high school students were studied through their responses on the COPE Inventory and other measures. Results support the measure's internal consistency but suggest significant gender differences and four factors among the subscales. Implications for the instruments' use with adolescents…

Resiliency research helps identify preventive measures for avoiding negative outcomes associated with stress. The article discusses what separates those who cope successfully with life's stressors from those who cope poorly. Health promotion programs must develop early preventions to avoid negative spirals in children before stressors permanently…

The adjustment of 130 high school graduates and 70 dropouts, all with behavioral disorders, is investigated, focusing on employment, living arrangements, leisure activities, coping mechanisms, and difficulties with law enforcement. Employed versus unemployed individuals are compared in terms of gender, vocational training received in high school,…

A study of 276 women aged 35-64 re-entering higher education used the life-event framework to focus on stresses of university life, coping methods, and adaptations to school demands. Subgroup (women with young families and mature families) experiences were compared. Each had different motives, strains, and coping methods. Program options are…

Identifies and discusses five basic skill strengths or skill deficits that mark critical difference between low-risk and high-risk youth. The "Five Cs of Competency" described include critical school competencies, concept of self and self-esteem, communication skills, coping ability, and control. Contends that these characteristics discriminate…

A model is proposed to delineate several sociocultural, family, neighborhood, and personal coping factors thought to moderate the effects of stress and risk factors that ordinarily contribute to adverse developmental outcomes in children and adolescents. Research is proposed on issues related to resilience and coping. (SLD)

Reports on a study of 15 doctoral students who were alcoholics' daughters. It examined family origin and elementary-secondary schooling, plus data from the Children of Alcoholics Screening Test. Findings indicated that children survived by hiding their parents' problem, masquerading as normal, and actively working to avoid being discovered. (SM)

Presents a solution-focused treatment model that incorporates macro and micro views of ethnic differences and similarities. It is argued that not all clients from the same ethnic group experience life in similar ways. Use of the model is explored through a discussion of the treatment of Asian-American clients. (SLD)

The six articles of this special section address the organizational context that shapes utilization of mental health services, the relevance of data elements and results to decision making, and assuring the validity of evaluation results. Theoretical and practical concerns are considered. (SLD)

Investigates group differences in the relationship between stress-coping variables and substance use with urban middle school students. African-American adolescents had the lowest rate of substance use, Hispanics were intermediate, and Whites had the highest rate. The strength of predictive relationships for stress-coping variables was lower for…

Assesses the effects of external constraints on teachers and the types of adaptation strategies they utilize. Interviews teachers in western Canada and finds they experience high stress from external constraints. Observes that teachers' coping options did not compromise their teaching but fed feelings of powerlessness in efforts to improve school…