This issue highlights the undergraduate experience and the increasingly important role of student affairs professionals in creating educational environments that enhance student success. It compares college students in the 1960s to today's students, noting that attitudes and behaviors of today's students are different from those of previous…

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a personal growth support group on the personal effectiveness (or "self-efficacy") of a small group of returning female community college students. Those who participated in the study were women over the age of 25 who were attending college for the first time or were returning to college…

Twenty-eight preschoolers with behavioral difficulties (aggression, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention) in a North Carolina Head Start program received an individualized intervention based on the family-centered system of care approach. Interventions included: (1) individual and classroom-based behavior management; (2) on site…

Investigated the mediating effects of social support on the academic achievement of children in single parent families. Parents and oldest school-age children completed questionnaires on demographic and support group information. Results indicated adequate social support may mediate negative effects of single parent family status on academic…

Noninstructional concerns with which teachers cope on a regular basis can be stressful, especially for beginning teachers. Teacher noninstructional concerns should be included in preservice programs to eliminate the problem of inadequate teacher preparation and its resultant stress. (JD)

A survey of 1,250 foreign and local students enrolled at 3 South Australian universities investigated their attitudes about study-related and personal experiences, and issues in student choice of university and subsequent evaluation of the institution. Results indicated that while foreign students experience more problems and more severe problems,…

Trends in college freshmen's health nationwide based on an annual survey administered from 1966-95 are described, highlighting alcohol and drugs, physical health, psychological health, and sexual attitudes. Major trends include declines in beer drinking and physical and emotional self-confidence, and increase in stress and cigarette smoking. (SM)

Reports a series of ethnographic studies of student behavior concerning examinations, conducted in a Canadian university since the mid-1980s. Describes techniques of data gathering and the link between methodology and theory. Examines implications for higher education, including dealing with students' exam-related stress, factors influencing…

This study compared changes in stress scores of preservice teachers in a traditional teacher preparation program and a pilot professional development school (PDS). Data from the Teacher Stress Scale, taken before and after the field experiences, showed statistically significant increases in stress during the culminating field experience for PDS…

A modified version of the Societal, Attitudinal, Familial, and Environmental Acculturative Stress Scale (SAFE) was administered to 71 Latino and Euramerican children aged 8-10 from southern California. Despite being U.S.-born, Latino children experienced significantly more acculturative stress than their Euramerican peers, thereby helping to…

This ethnographic study examined the introduction of school uniforms in the public schools of one California city. Findings indicated that the uniform issue intersected with issues such as student safety and violence, family stress, egalitarianism, competitive dressing, and a power struggle over shaping the childhood environment. It was concluded…

Examined cross-cultural variations in stress among Asian and Caucasian graduate students (N=204). Analyzed surveys measuring life stress, physical health complaints, and psychological health. Findings indicated some cross-cultural variations in stress and adjustment among graduate students, with Asian graduate students experiencing fewer stressful…

The mediation of family and peer social support and self-esteem in the relationship between chronic strain and psychological adjustment in children and adolescents with juvenile diabetes is investigated. Family support is more important than peer support for children, while the opposite holds for adolescents. Self-esteem benefits both groups. (AF)

Examines whether relationships of self-reported depression and suicidality to gender roles or gender are moderated by stressful life events. Results with 290 female and 247 male undergraduates support the androgyny model of adjustment and a self-schema model of depression. (SLD)

In response to national downsizing, Ontario University conducted a study which explored how academic librarians coped with job loss and examined stressful institutional and personal elements (i.e., self-doubt, anger). Results found needs for library's plan to handle position elimination; coordination between library and personnel departments; and…