Examined relationship of role models among African American ninth-graders to substance use, delinquency, academic engagement, and psychological well-being. Found that males without male role models and females identifying brothers as role models reported the most problem behavior. Adolescents with paternal role models had most positive school…

A study examined whether protective factors reduce the effects of depression in American Indian and Alaska Native adolescents. Surveys of 2,034 Native high school students from 33 states indicated that depression moderately influenced self-perceived health status and that caring and connectedness counteracted the risk factors from depression that…

A longitudinal study comparing Black and White students' perceptions found similar perceptions of the medical school learning environment, Black perceptions of more stress and more support, and important differences in perceptions of academic performance and well-being. (Author/MSE)

Investigates the relationship between family economic hardship and adolescent distress among 622 students in grades 9-12. Hardship effects varied according to type of distress. Hardship had direct and indirect effects on the depression-loneliness factor and an indirect effect on the delinquency-drug use factor. (RJC)

Describes Healing Wind, a community wellness and development program on the Passamaquoddy Reservation in Maine. Discusses the grassroots response to community problems such as substance abuse, school vandalism, and suicide; the program's foundation on cultural traditions such as the talking circle; formation of a core group to implement the…

A collaboration between art therapists and child life professionals within a pediatric setting encourages optimal adjustment for sick children and their families. Art therapists practicing in pediatric settings are encouraged to broaden their ability to use a wide range of art and play modalities to reach the broadest range of patients and…

This study examined the relationship between maternal perceptions of family coping strategies and family strengths in 206 Hispanic, African-American, and Caucasian families of young children with and without disabilities. Within all three groups, use of internal family coping strategies was more predictive of family strengths than was use of…

Presents issues in the fields of health and physical education, introducing new roles for the professions and providing challenges and direction for the future. The article discusses the impact of health and physical education on wellness, self-esteem, and values, explaining the resulting savings and benefits to society. (SM)

Describes the origins of parenting stress, namely, tensions in the parent-child relationship and changes that occur in five family domains as men and women make the transition from life as a couple to family life. Implications for public policy are discussed. (Author/BB)

Assessed the cognitive functioning and psychological well-being of women and men of 60 to 74 years, and 75 to 92 years, respectively. Delineated age and gender differences and identified individual differences that predicted memory. The intentional memory of women was more accurate than that of men. Education and gender, along with processing…

Research on self-concept, attributions, anxiety, depression, and suicide among adolescents with learning disability is examined for the purpose of detecting consistency of emotional and developmental indicators. Analysis indicates that these students appear to be at increased risk for severe depression and suicide. (Author/DB)

Investigated psychometric properties and correlates of Students' Life Satisfaction Scale with adolescent sample (n=222). Individual differences in global life satisfaction were not associated with age, grade, or gender but were associated moderately with socioeconomic status. Measures of family-related self-concept were greater predictors of life…

Compared child, maternal, and caregiver characteristics in two day-care settings and the utility of a goodness-of-fit framework as a means of assessing the impact of parent-caregiver differences on children's adjustment. Found differences between mothers who chose the two different day cares and between caregivers in the two settings.…

Found high rate of suicide attempts and ideation among 229 seventh- through ninth-grade American Indian students on reserves in Alberta. Prevalence of suicidality was very similar to rates reported for Navajo youth. Controlling for age, risk factors for suicide attempts were heavy alcohol use, no father in home, sleeping problems, and low…

Examines the relationship between parental bonding and mental health in healthy adolescents. Results, based on 847 Israeli high school students, show that those who reported high care and low control (optimal bonding) reported less distress, better general well-being, and better social support than did all other groups. (RJM)