Wellness, or holistic health, represents a positive attitude toward the integration of physical and psychological aspects of lifestyle. There have been few attempts to assess wellness that contain more than questionnaire items across several component areas. This paper describes a test battery that includes physical (nutrition, cardiorespiratory…

Since 1972 ,when the city of Miami Beach, Florida initiated redevelopment plans for South Miami Beach, the elderly residents have been besieged by a series of events beyond their control that have left them at risk emotionally and physically. To examine the relative impact of health, personal control, and social support as predictors of affect and…

The aim of the MM+ initiative is to build the capacity of secondary schools to ensure optimal outcomes of students with high needs in the area of mental health. This is important for many reasons including the fact that poor psychological wellbeing in students has been found to lead to behavioural difficulties at school that can then serve as…

The physical and emotional manifestations of burnout are described. A five-phase model is outlined for preventing extensive stress leading to teacher burnout. Phase One is predicated upon the notion that a professional cannot manage stress without the ability to identify it. Descriptions are given of the signs of physiological, psychological, and…

Examined the construction of parent-adolescent separation from the perspective of late adolescents. Study one included factor analysis of 34 separation-related items by 391 college students. In the second study, 199 college students completed related measures. Results indicate ways in which late adolescents define and achieve separation.(Author/BN)

Examination of the social and emotional well-being of 177 divorced mothers and fathers with live-in children revealed no differences between their reports of psychosomatic symptomatology, life satisfaction, life-area rankings, family cooperation, social support, and ex-spouse contact satisfaction. More health improvements and family esteem were…

Interviewed 92 elderly residents of area targeted for massive redevelopment. Findings revealed that each health, control, and support emerged as independent predictors of affect and life satisfaction, and that affect was significantly lower for those with no close support figure than for those with one close relationship. (Author/NB)

Explored participation in and impact of social roles on psychological and physical health of middle-aged and older Black women. Found that few such women participated in the three roles of parent, spouse, and employee simultaneously. Of these three roles, only employment showed a significant relationship to well-being, having a positive impact on…

Reports universal issues discussed by social welfare experts from 20 European/North American countries: unique energy of strong "local communities," stimulation of innovative thinking to resolve rural problems, and recognition that depopulated rural communities often regain strength and vitality when they become more accepting of new…

Differences in ratings by faculty members and first-, second-, and third-year residents on measures of occupational stress, personal strain, and availability of coping resources were examined. The findings suggest that residency education interferes with first-year residents' abilities to cope and places their physical well-being at risk.…

A study of British adolescents was conducted. Though no sex differences were found for personal adjustment, females experienced more conflict over sex-role issues. Subjects who experienced the highest levels of sex-role conflict also experienced more problems in personal adjustment when they perceived themselves as deficient in…

Clearly, the issues in this year's KIDS COUNT Data Book essay represent some of the most formidable barriers facing parents who are trying to connect to the workforce. Substance abuse, domestic violence, prior incarceration, and depression can potentially paralyze even the most eager and enterprising parents and jeopardize the economic security…

This guide for Connecticut policymakers and advocacy groups provides instructions for conducting a community assessment--gathering and analyzing data on child well-being, using social indicators. The guide first details the steps for a community assessment: create goals and objectives, identify outcomes and indicators, develop a plan, find…

This annotated brief summarizes research on the effects of family structure on child wellbeing, identifying issues that remain to be explored. On average, children who grow up in families with both their biological parents in a low-conflict marriage are better off in several ways than children who grow up in single-, step-, or cohabiting-parent…

This report by the National Institute on Out-of- School Time (NIOST) in association with The Forum for Youth (FYI) investigates how after-school programs in Boston can most effectively promote positive youth development as a support to academic achievement. The positive youth development approach addresses the broader developmental needs of youth,…