The effects of stressful experiences on the psychological well-being of 113 homeless women and 116 low-income housed women were investigated. Measures of victimization assessed multiple dimensions of this construct, including criminal victimization, sexual harassment, and sexual abuse. Measures of daily environmental hassles and quality of family…

Reviews aspects of our cultural environment that have changed over the past half century and that may significantly affect children's intellectual development. Positive influences include increased student and parental education attainment, decreased family size, increased family resources, and shifts in parenting style. One negative factor is…

Investigated the psychometric integrity of the College Student Reasons for Living Inventory of suicidal behaviors in a sample of 511 undergraduate students from a large Midwestern university. Results tentatively support the scale's continued use and development. (KW)

Examined the quality of parent-child relationships and the socioemotional and gender development of a community sample of 7-year-olds with lesbian parents, with two-parent heterosexual parents, or with single heterosexual mothers from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Found no significant differences between lesbian mothers and…

Describes a study of the relationship between stress and selected job functions of community/junior college presidents, the importance of these functions, and the presidents' use of counterstress activities. Reveals that presidents rated most of their administrative responsibilities as "not very stressful," with exceptions being "faculty…

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…