Several theories of the alcoholic personality have been devised to determine the relationship between the clusters of personality characteristics of alcoholics and their abuse of alcohol. The oldest and probably best known theory is the dependency theory, formulated in the tradition of classical psychoanalysis, which associates the alcoholic's…

Resilience is defined as "the human capacity to face, overcome, and be strengthened by experiences of adversity." This study used an Eriksonian developmental model to examine parents', caregivers', and children's resilience-promotion in children up to 12 years of age. Age and gender differences and cultural/ethnic similarities and…

Defining coping as the cognitive and behavioral strategies used to deal with the demands of everyday living, this book explores the research on how young people manage a range of life problems. Following an introduction discussing the particular aspects of adolescent coping behavior, motivation, and attitudes, the book is divided into eleven…

Performing Arts Psychology has recently emerged as a unique subspecialty comparable to that of Sports Psychology. Attention has been focused on problems common to all performers (e.g., performance anxiety); however, the various stresses within each art form often remain hidden from view. To assess the psychological aspects of different art forms,…

Previous research has shown that women and minority medical students experience stresses not observed in their white male peers. This study examined the combined effects of race and sex on the stress manifested in a diverse longitudinal sample of medical students from two medical schools. Students (N=259, an 82.7% response rate) in the first year…

The Resiliency Scale (C. Jew, 1992) is a recently developed measure intended to assess an individual's level of three facets of resiliency (optimism, skill acquisition, and risk-taking). Separate exploratory factor analyses with three diverse groups have led to definition of subscales bearing some similarities. In this study, items comparable…

This study explored factors within a child's social, familial, and intrapsychic system that mediate the effects on the child of parental separation/divorce. Using a sample of 52 children and 28 parents involved in contested divorce cases, structured interviews lasting 1.5 to 3 hours were conducted. Information about the separation, parental…

Examined sex-typed traits (instrumentality and expressiveness), the work environment (demands and interpersonal resources), and importance of stressor episodes as predictors of measures of coping (avoidance, problem reappraisal, and active problem solving) with 132 managers. Found women more likely to use avoidance and problem-reappraisal coping,…

Registered nurses, interns, and residents from five hospitals in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey were administered the Maslach Human Services Survey, Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale, Rotter's Locus of Control Scale, Newman's Alpha Omega Scale, and a demographic questionnaire. Results strongly suggested that an individual with high self-esteem and…

Reports on two studies related to the effect of early stress on the social and academic development of boys and girls. Suggested that the social resiliency of boys was relatively consistent from age 3 to 18, while girls had no such pattern. Academic performance of boys was lower than girls. (TW)

In this introduction to the special journal issue on stress and coping, stress and coping theory is reviewed. Notes that issue is devoted to coping with stressors during transition of adolescence; age and gender differences in stress and coping; influence of close relationship as stress buffer; relationship between coping and adaption; and…

High-masculinity subjects, compared to low-masculinity persons, scored significantly lower on self-report measures of depression, state anxiety, and trait anxiety. No differences in distress were found as a function of sex or of the femininity dimension. High-masculine subjects also rated their problem-solving ability as more effective.…

Reports on a study of the sources and levels of stress in relation to locus of control and self-esteem among 675 British university students. Finds differences between male and female students. Maintains that students with high self-esteem are less stressed than those with low. (CFR)

Investigated resilience, as assessed by mothers, among 4- to 11-year-old children of Taiwanese immigrant families in the United States. Found that maternal support for child resilience and mixed cultural rearing style was most predictive of children's resilience, but maternal employment was not associated with resilience. Boys were less resilient…

This paper reviews the research on how siblings respond to another sibling who has survived childhood cancer. The paper examines the siblings' ability to cope, adjust, and adapt to this stressor. Relevant interventions are also discussed. The research indicates that although siblings may experience heightened emotional and behavioral problems,…