Examined measures of student role evaluation, commitment to student role, and self-good student role incongruence to predict level of personal distress experienced by nontraditional college students (N=179). Found that self-evaluation and commitment to student role had effect on student role congruence, which had effect on academic performance and…

The lack of Black mentors, counselors, and role models at predominantly White colleges is one factor in poor retention of Black students. Access to academic advising, career counseling, and student personnel services can help Black college students to define priorities and give them a sense of shared values and achievement. (AF)

Interview responses of fifth- and sixth-grade gifted and talented children in resource programs revealed attitudes about their own abilities, competition, their school programs, expectations of others, and participation in special programs. A variety of social and emotional needs clearly emerged. (MSE)

A study of the transition from high school to university of 16 freshman track and field athletes investigated academic, athletic, and social aspects. Student challenges included feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities, loneliness, and need to balance freedom and responsibility. Students used two main strategies to maintain perspective: (1) time…

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…

Problems encountered by first-year social science doctoral students in adjusting to their new status as novice researchers are examined, including intellectual solitariness, professional and social isolation, new work organization requirements, anxiety concerning time and productivity, intellectual life, and supervision. Factors contributing to…

Examined middle and lower class Anglo-American and Puerto Rican mothers' sociocultural values and perceptions of attachment behavior. Anglo mothers focused on self-confidence, independence, and autonomy, whereas Puerto Rican mothers focused on obedience, relatedness, and demeanor. Findings indicate the need for culturally sensitive models of the…

The main outcomes of the Prague (Czechoslovakia) longitudinal studies following over 1,000 children for almost 30 years are summarized. The children were either born from unwanted pregnancies, with alcoholic fathers, born out-of-wedlock, or in divorced families. A theory of psychological subdeprivation is offered and applied to children with…

Compared 22 high-goal-directed and 22 low-goal-directed early retirees to examine the idea that effective adaptation to life events requires an ability to maintain a sense of purpose and direction. Found that high-goal-directed retirees were viewed as more outgoing and involved, whereas low-goal-directed retirees were viewed as self-critical,…

A study of 276 women aged 35-64 re-entering higher education used the life-event framework to focus on stresses of university life, coping methods, and adaptations to school demands. Subgroup (women with young families and mature families) experiences were compared. Each had different motives, strains, and coping methods. Program options are…

A model is proposed to delineate several sociocultural, family, neighborhood, and personal coping factors thought to moderate the effects of stress and risk factors that ordinarily contribute to adverse developmental outcomes in children and adolescents. Research is proposed on issues related to resilience and coping. (SLD)

To develop a measure of the adjustment strains for international students, more than 250 high school-aged students from 5 South American countries were assessed twice during a year-long stay in the United States using the Inventory of Student Adjustment. Results support the utility and validity of the scale. (SLD)

Investigates group differences in the relationship between stress-coping variables and substance use with urban middle school students. African-American adolescents had the lowest rate of substance use, Hispanics were intermediate, and Whites had the highest rate. The strength of predictive relationships for stress-coping variables was lower for…

Four high school students and one 1993 graduate interviewed about school shootings identify contributing factors: parent neglect, ignorance of emotional problems among students, peer pressure exerted by cliques, stress caused by pressure to excel, and alienation resulting from large schools and overworked teachers. Prevention measures include…

Surveys of rural and urban secondary teachers examined teacher stress and burnout. Urban teachers experienced significantly more stress from poor working conditions and staff relations. In both types of schools, student misbehavior and time pressures caused the highest stress. Working conditions and time pressures predicted burnout for rural…