Defining stress as a "misfit" between individual needs and environmental attributes, this paper reviews research on areas where the designed environment, on both a schoolwide and a classroom level, interacts with the educational process. These interactions are considered from the perspective of stresses imposed on both teachers and students. The…

While numerous studies have identified economic, social, and environmental conditions related to stress, greater stress has been found to be related to poverty, unemployment, assembly line work, crowding, and chronic exposure to noise. These stressful situations most frequently confront people with little personal, economic, or political resources…

Retrospective accounts of the nature of adolescence as experienced by mildly handicapped individuals were gathered through indepth conversations and interviews over an 18 month period with 48 mildly retarded adults (ages 22 to 60) living independently in the community. Structured life history interviews were also conducted with parents or other…

The nature of a healthy lifestyle and its significance to quality of life is examined. Following a discussion on what is involved in a healthy lifestyle, major health problems are described: (1) smoking; (2) alcohol and drug abuse; (3) sexually transmitted diseases; (4) diet and obesity; (5) stress; and (6) inadequate sleep. Recommendations are…

Women who enrolled in college during their middle-aged years (between ages 30 and 49) were studied. Attention was directed to: the relationship between returning to school and critical developmental issues; the influence of educational experience on understanding such issues; and the stress factors experienced by mid-life university women.…

The purpose of this book is to help parents and surrogate parents think about what they want to say to their children about important life issues, especially at times of stress or when significant events are taking place in children's lives. The advice offered is directed to parents of children between the approximate ages of 5 and 12 years. Part…

In 1981 and 1982, pre- and postnatal medical, financial, demographic, and maternal social support data were collected from 220 lower socioeconomic status (SES), "high risk" mothers and their newborn infants. An analysis of data on the oldest 100 children in the sample found that 14 families had been referred to a children's protective services…

This study investigated differences in perceived quality of life of 156 college students and 77 faculty members at the same university. It also addressed the issue of sex differences. Subjects responded to an 81-item quality-of-life survey by indicating their degree of dissatisfaction with each situation. Students differed significantly from…

Results of physiological and psychological studies related to night and shift work are reviewed from the standpoint of their possible use by industry in understanding the problems of shift work and finding solutions. (New research data that has appeared since original preparation of the manuscript is presented in a three-part addendum with…

Interest in occupational stress in older employees can be expected to increase in the future. Among the more widely documented sources of stress at work are those associated with demands of the job. Laboratory research in gerontology shows a disproportionate effect on older persons of increased work task demands. Naturalistic studies also suggest…

In an example of treating teacher stress through a workshop, research on teacher stress factors is presented, and methods of dealing with stress symptoms are discussed. In the first session, stress is defined, and job-related stress factors for elementary and secondary school teachers are listed. Self-imposed and situational stress are described,…

Teachers face more demands from more interest groups than other occupations and rank behind only air traffic controllers and physicians in burnout intensity. The phenomenon of burnout was examined in an analysis of 443 school counselors' survey responses. There was little difference between male and female counselors in terms of anxiety level but…

Although studies on test anxiety are abundant in the research literature, there are few investigations of the relationship of stress to academic achievement. To test the hypothesis that maladaptive methods of coping with stress are related to academic achievement in greater magnitude than the relationship of Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores,…

The experience of consultants in a pediatric hospital indicates that infant failure to thrive is almost always associated with strain in the relationships of the infant's caregivers. Consequently, a nontraditional, long-term, home-based, and family-centered model of evaluation and treatment of failure to thrive has been developed which involves…

Many aspects of the work environment can lead to feelings of stress among teachers. The job, other teachers, discipline issues, and characteristics of the school administration can all be potential stressors for teachers. Understanding the dynamics of teacher stress can be useful for school administrators in many ways. It provides them with a…