Clinical studies suggest individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PSD) experience neuroendocrine systems alterations, resulting in significantly lower plasma cortisol. To test this hypothesis, morning serum cortisol was compared among a national sample of Vietnam "theater" veterans (n=2,490) and a sample of Vietnam "era"…

Addresses problems associated with conducting research on difficult family topics. Issues examined are personal issues that play a role in research topic selections, problems obtaining Review Board permission to do certain research, emotional problems experienced by researchers and interviewers doing work on loss, and emotional problems of…

Investigated whether stress and coping responses of African American youth were the result of violence exposure alone or an accumulation of stressors. Survey data indicated that violence experienced significantly predicted posttraumatic stress symptoms, but not preferred coping strategy. Life events, discrimination, violence exposure, neighborhood…

Investigates the relationship between anxiety, fear, self-esteem, and coping strategies with children aged 7 to 12 (N=224) in Australia. Specially examines whether these changes were gender specific. Results indicated girls had consistently low levels of self-esteem, while boys showed decreases in anxiety and fear by age 12. By year 12, boys and…

A model is presented that proposes environmental conditions for creative producers which result in responses that include the development of several key personality characteristics, such as a preference for time alone, an ability to cope with anxiety, freedom from conventionality, and the use of intellectual activities to fulfill emotional needs.…

Assesses characteristics of resiliency and help-seeking behavior among urban minority youth as related to issues of minority youth socialization and schooling. Discusses the role of help-seeking orientation in developing resiliency; developmental foundations of, and institutional influences on, help-seeking orientation; an integrated perspective…

Summarizes two popular models for increasing sensitivity to sensory impairment in the elderly and details a third model used in training human service students and practitioners. Ideas and techniques presented work toward understanding the impact of sensory impairment on the daily life of older adults and to identify coping techniques to improve…

Compared the problems and coping strategies of 231 adolescents (mean age, 15 years) from rural mid-south alternative and non-alternative schools. Results indicated that, overall, alternative school students tend to respond to given problems by using more negative coping strategies than do non-alternative school students. (SLD)

Examined the nature and extent of parental stress among adoptive parents of special-needs children. Found higher than average levels of stress, particularly on subscales related to parent-child dysfunctional interactions and to raising a difficult child. Identified five stress categories: (1) child characteristics; (2) parent-child interactions;…

One hundred twenty mothers of children with autism, with mental retardation, or typically developing were assessed for effects of social support and hardiness on level of stress. Results indicated significant group differences in ratings of depression, anxiety, somatic complaints and burnout. Both hardiness and social support were predictive of…

To examine how mothers cope with the stresses of raising a child with autism, mothers of children with (n=29) and without (n=29) autism were interviewed. Results supporting seven hypotheses suggest that mothers may redefine their roles as a coping strategy. Life satisfaction for mothers of children with autism was positively associated with…

Presents a process analysis of a psychodynamic intervention for a client with panic attacks. Discusses how a psychodynamic understanding of the complex etiology of the client's panic attacks that ultimately produced improved coping skills and a subjective sense of improvement for her. Process analysis is used to illustrate the theoretical base,…

Suggests that all teaching in literature classes is in some ways preparation for events such as September 11th. Argues that teachers teach students to read events such as these by showing them how to move from reaction to reflection, and from image to empathy; and to write so that they capture their thinking, reexamine it, and present it to…

Home life can be challenging but rewarding for individuals living with both their children and their parents. To make the experience successful, it is important to have open communication, an elder-proofed house, quality time for the children, and coping strategies for emergencies. Many free services are available to offer activities, advice, and…

This qualitative study of life management in 15 families of children with various disability characteristics and ages identified effective life management strategies (e.g., positive personal reframing), positive parent characteristics (e.g., decision-making ability), and parents' experiences of positive transformational outcomes in personal,…