Sport-specific preparticipation examinations do not address social problems (drug abuse, suicide, murder, accidents, and sex) epidemic among teenagers, but they are often the only contact these youth have with a physician. This article discusses these risk factors and presents methods for assessing them during preparticipation exams. (SM)

Examined caregiving strain of 117 African-American and 464 white daughter caregivers. African Americans reported less role strain. Conflict between caregiving duties and caregivers' personal/social life was predictor for both groups. Unique predictors were poor perceived health, unavailability of respite support, and lower caregiving role demand…

Evaluated the effects of stress-moderating factors of social support and locus of control in high school students (n=200) focusing on maladaptive outcomes such as depression. Social support satisfaction, impact of negative life events, and locus of control were found to directly predict levels of depression. (ABL)

A comprehensive investigation into psychological distress among Western Australian teachers used the General Health Questionnaire to measure nine independent variables, including five stressors and four distressors. The data showed high stress levels; stressors correlated positively with distress and distressors correlated negatively. Gender…

A study of stress, coping, depression, and somatic distress among students (n=69) in a University of Mississippi psychiatry clerkship found clinical levels of depression in almost one-fourth of the group and high levels of somatic distress in over one-half. Coping strategies appeared useful to students, and training in coping is recommended.…

Investigated maternal/preschool child functioning in families of solo mothers. Solo mothers differed from married counterparts in stress and social support, yet no differences in child outcome were observed. Reassessed 28 families as children entered preadolescence. Teachers reported preadolescents of solo mothers had more behavior problems, lower…

This study found that fathers of 20 preschool children with developmental delays and language impairment used more response control and topic control than mothers. Both parents reported low levels of child-related and parenting stress. Fathers used greater control with developmentally less mature children; mothers used greater control with…

Examines machismo (strict adherence to traditional masculine gender identity) in terms of Bem's gender schema theory. Uses the example of a Mexican immigrant family facing social and cultural changes to demonstrate the dynamics of machismo and how it might lead to emotional problems and physical symptoms in Hispanic men and their families.…

Factors that allowed inner-city ninth graders to maintain socially competent behavior in spite of stress were examined. Findings yield insights on the ways in which personality variables may interact with stress to influence social competence among inner-city adolescents. (GLR)

Studied the role of social conditions, Type A behavior, monitoring, blunting, and locus of control in second and fifth graders' methods of coping with everyday stressors. Except for Type A behavior, coping was associated with the predictors. Strongest associations were found for social competence. Predictors were not associated with ratings of…

Survey responses of 549 North Carolina farm operators during an economically unstable period were analyzed using a covariance structure model. Results suggest that the relationship between farm financial strain and farmer's depressive symptoms is mediated by the farmer's perceptions of economic hardship and personal control. Contains 59…

Examines the nature and extent of job-related stress among collegiate business- and professional-writing faculty. Finds that job-related stress is associated with faculty members' rank, type of institution, and sex. (KEH)

Surveys of students at two Australian colleges (n=342 and 208) investigated their perceived stresses during the college experience. Respondents were more concerned with academic matters than a range of personal, interpersonal, and practical factors. Additional surveys of faculty indicate they are biased in their perceptions of student concerns.…

Adolescents 10 to 18 years of age were interviewed 4.5 years after their parents' divorce. Adolescents' feeling of being caught between parents was related to high parental conflict and low parental cooperation. Closeness to both parents was related to low feelings of being caught between parents. Feeling caught was related to poor adjustment…

This study of mothers of 60 children (ages 2-18) with autism found that mothers who perceived social support as more available experienced fewer stress-related somatic problems and depressive symptoms than did those with less perceived support. Analysis also indicated that hardiness was a predictor of both depressive symptoms and somatic…