Examines whether prevention research can benefit from resilience research in designing interventions. Suggests that although many areas in the investigative interests of prevention and resilience researchers overlap, Luther, Cicchetti, and Becker may have set the bar too high for defining resilience in the context of varying levels of adversity.…

Similar themes related to the concept of adaptability and well-being psychology include long-term perspective, relationships, self-development, and future focus. These themes may be combined into the construct of "possible selves," which links well-being and career development. (SK)

Questions about perceived self-efficacy are used to analyze cognitive processes through which people approach their efficacy for performance. The review indicates that: (a) self-efficacy perceptions generalize across idiosyncratic sets; (b) efficacy-standards discrepancies can create individual negative moods; and (c) distinctions can be made…

Introduces this special issue highlighting social work research using a risk, protection, and resilience perspective. This perspective can be used to conceptualize problems in social work practice; develop plans of action for individuals, families, or communities, design services at the program level; and build measurement models for assessing…

Study explored relationships between self-reported exposure to a comprehensive set of risk and protective factors and outcomes, including substance use, school outcomes, and delinquency. Results indicate prevention policies and programs should focus on reduction of risk and promotion of protective influences if reduction in adolescent substance…

Discusses findings of a study on resilience and protective factors among 131 urban African American adolescents. Identifies stressors related to environmental conditions that adolescents must overcome. Findings suggest that significant interaction does occur among stressors and protective factors in such a manner that they enhance educational…

Describes the development of a curriculum for students in K-5 that teaches character development and involves all members of the school faculty. Uses animal associations to reinforce the importance of certain character traits, outlines lesson planning, and discusses program development, character traits, program evaluation, and the need for…

Measured parents of 116 adult children with mental retardation on dimensions of family sense of coherence, social support, family adaptability, family cohesion, and family adaptation. Results indicate that most families were resilient and functioning positively. Claims that the empirical typology can be used to describe the strengths of these…

Examines the influence of caregivers' Attachment Styles and personality traits on their experiences of caring for dementia dependents. Results, based on 126 caregiver-dependent pairs, indicate connections between attachment style factors and caregiver experiences. Those choosing to institutionalize dependents ranked higher on Avoidance factors…

Relates Wade's and Gelso's Male Reference Group Dependence Theory to past and present literature in the new psychology of men. Points out the strengths of the ideas and data; reflects on where the theory needs more clarification and extension. (MKA)

Argues that Wade's Male Reference Group Identity Dependence Theory seems to cover familiar groups in respect to gender issues. Also holds that Wade's theory is not sensitive enough to individual differences. Discusses the status of the groups in the study. Offers suggestions for future research. (MKA)

A study of 97 adults found that 53 reported experiencing one or more types of trauma or abuse in childhood. As a group they scored more negatively than those reporting no abuse on measures of sleep dysfunction. Resilient characteristics were only related to measures of social-behavioral functioning, not well-being. (Author/CR)

Different aspects of courage are discussed through anecdotes: from the courage required in the outdoors, which most adventure educators have experienced, to observations that courage may be required when it is not anticipated, that it may also involve restraint, that expressing one's needs requires courage, and that courage is also the ability to…

Results with 54 pairs of Slovenian students, matched for participation or nonparticipation in intensive sports classes in elementary school, indicate that a combination of flexible organization of academic work and intensive sports classes does not have a negative impact on intellectual, academic, or personality development. (SLD)

Physicians, physician educators, and nonphysician educators attended a workshop on learning style and personality type inventories. One month later participants were interviewed regarding their reactions to the inventories. Physicians found the inventories interesting and fun to take and thought the styles and types of information were applicable…