We investigated whether daily experiences of conflict with family and peers were associated with fluctuations in diurnal cortisol, and whether sleep buffers the associations between conflict and diurnal cortisol. A racially diverse sample of 370 adolescents (ages 11-18; 57.3% female) provided daily diaries for 5 days and saliva samples for 4 days.…

This study examined interparental conflict as a linear and curvilinear predictor of subsequent changes in adolescents' negative emotional reactivity and cortisol functioning during family conflict and, in turn, their psychological difficulties. In addition, adolescents' negative emotional reactivity and cortisol functioning during family conflict…

Adolescence is the period between childhood and adulthood and the most important stage of a human being. Adolescence is a period of stress and storm. Students cannot adjust with their new-fangled role in life. They can have Emotional, Mental, Behavioural, and Adjustment problems known as "disorders". Behavioural patterns that appear in…

Examined the interrelationships among coping statements, a self-report measure of anxiety, and maladaptive overt behavior in a dental situation. Subjects were 23 adolescents. Found that as disruptive "in-chair" overt behavior increased, so did the percentage of coping statements; as self-report levels of anxiety increased, the percentage of coping…

Using two waves of data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, this study examines the impact of recent residential mobility on adolescent violence. A unique focus of our analysis is an examination of the ability of various mechanisms, including parent-child relationships, psychological distress, experiences of victimization,…

One hundred forty-six young adolescents and 166 young adults completed questionnaires assessing the appraisal of efforts to cope with 3 common stressful events--conflicts with mother and friend and failure. Significant correlations were found between appraisal and coping, and results suggest that coping is multiply determined. (SLD)

Chronic stress can affect the health of children and adolescents when their resources are insufficient for coping with demands placed upon them. Harmful behavior patterns can lead to poor health. Students should be taught to mobilize their physiological, cognitive, and social resources in ways that promote good health. (PP)

Focused on mental health and protective factors in early adolescence. Significant relations between coping strategies and mental health were found, which are different according to gender: girls invest in more social relations, negative feelings, and consumption habits; boys often use sense of humor, or practice a hobby or sport. (JBJ)

Presents information about suicide among adolescents. Profiles the suicidal person and reviews general distress signals and events precipitating suicide. Suggests responses to potential or actual suicides, including intervention, prevention, and ministry strategies. Provides recommendations for educators and clarifies common myths about suicide.…

Members of nuclear families look to one another for support in times of stress. Relationships between spouses and between parents and children contain the conditions required for effective counselling and helping. This paper presents the results of two tests of the hypothesis that such helping relationships in families act as moderators between…

Examined the association between psychosocial development and the timing of first sexual intercourse in a sample of white, rural adolescents. Two theoretical models were tested. For both boys and girls, early timing of first sexual intercourse was associated with longitudinal patterns of greater transition proneness and poorer psychosocial…

Parenting and growing up are both becoming increasingly difficult. Today's teenagers are faced with pressures new to this era, such as AIDS and easy drug availability. Other consequences of our technical, fast-changing society are manifested in increasing competition, conformity, and divorce. Characteristics of a normal, well-adjusted adolescent…

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…

Examined the role of two psychosocial stressors, self-concept and alcohol-related attitudes, in mediating alcohol use among Hispanic junior high school students and explored the link between the two factors in early adolescence. Concluded that Hispanic adolescents with more positive self-concepts and attitudes are less likely to use alcohol or to…

Studied influence of culture on coping behavior of youngsters in anxiety-provoking situations. Applied a situation-reaction inventory to late adolescents (n=721) from India, Italy, Hungary, Sweden, and Yemen. Consistent results showed adolescents at low-medium anxiety levels employed constructive and assimilative coping and at high anxiety levels…