Presents a theoretical and practical exploration of issues in teaching psychology of women. The eight articles in this special issue deal with the faculty, issues, courses, teaching methods and resources in the field, values and tensions in teaching psychology of women, related research, and the women's movement. (JAC)

Members of two types of self-help groups assessed the occurence of various helping processes in their groups. Found self-help groups emphasized supportive and expressive processes while avoiding confrontive processes; and behavioral techniques were used more frequently by behavioral control groups than by stress coping groups. (RC)

Attempted to determine effectiveness of three-week stress management unit for high school students. Measures of heart rate and muscle tension were used to determine the amount of control demonstrated during a period of relaxation and a period of induced stress. Results of the study indicate that a stress management unit for high school students…

Reports the results of an empirical study of psychological stress and strain among teachers. A number of strain variables were sampled: various aspects of job satisfaction and felt pressure; self-esteem assessed against the perceived qualities of other teachers; and clinically validated measures of depression, anxiety, somaticism, and…

Examined a model of suicide behavior in college-aged suicide ideators. Results indicate that college-student suicide ideators are under higher levels of negative life stress, are more hopeless, and have higher levels of depression. Poor problem-solvers under high stress were higher on suicide intent than other groups. (Author)

Definitions are provided which permit an analysis of stress, career burnout, and mid-life professional crises among teachers. Burnout is defined as the mid-career deterioration of job performance. Observation of teacher burnout symptoms shows that many teachers lose commitment to the profession as their careers develop. (JN)

The competitive structure in which most children are taught to play is responsible for problems associated with stress. Athletic performance is important in how the child is perceived by peers and adults. Children who perceive themselves as inadequate at sports often feel low self-confidence and low self-esteem. (JN)

Questioned 438 students about their worries. Found that the percentage of students who worry about grades is consistently high across grade levels. Over half the students worry about physical harm to themselves or loved ones. Suggests school counseling programs include relaxation training to help students cope with life stresses. (JAC)

Examines why the role of housewife may actually foster depression. Presents the concept of learned helplessness as a tool for understanding and treating depressed housewives. Suggests social workers use a task-oriented approach in treating women who feel they have no control over their lives. (Author/JAC)

An athlete needs to be taught to identify strengths and weaknesses, to concentrate for longer periods of time and regain lost concentration, to develop greater self-discipline and self control, and to deal with performance anxiety. Instructions are given for teaching relaxation methods to athletes, improving concentration, and setting realistic…

Revises the concept of verifiability of life events by requiring that they be verified. Presents three design issues which interact with verifiability and event qualification, which may result in threats to their validity. Suggests all three types of objectivity-subjectivity should be considered in designing life event studies. (Author/JAC)

Effects of stress on educators and efforts to understand and cope with stress are discussed. Sources of stress, common reactions to stress, the effects of stress on educator performance, and suggested preventive methods are examined. (JN)

Assesses relationships between child vulnerability to stress, birth order, and stage of family development. Identified four stages of family structure. Results showed vulnerability of first-borns and last-borns shifted across stages in a complementary fashion. Interpreted results in terms of a linkage between emotional symptoms and family…

Human Relations Training (HRT) groups increase the skill level of participants with regard to interpersonal functioning and provide a medium for positive personal growth. HRT groups seem to be possible resources for dealing with teacher burn-out and providing an effective medium for inservice education. (Author)

Before practice teaching, 174 student teachers completed four self-esteem/self-concept measures. Their cooperating teachers rated their student teaching performance. Subjects with low self-esteem experienced more psychosomatic symptoms, more emotional stress, more days of absence, and were rated lower on general teaching competence, staff…