The manner in which social support mediates the relationship between stressful life events and psychological distress was examined. A random sample of 320 adult community residents completed and returned a questionnaire assessing levels of life stress, social support, and psychological adjustment. As hypothesized, a social support-life stress…

This introductory packet provides an introduction to recent efforts to synthesize fundamental social and interpersonal areas of competence and problem functioning, while framing the discussion within the classification scheme developed by the American Pediatric Association. The range of interventions discussed is consistent with that framework,…

Descriptive and evaluative information is presented about the Interpersonal Cognitive Problem Solving (ICPS) program, which utilizes sequenced games and dialogs to teach young children new ways of thinking about and coping with interpersonal difficulties. (SJL)

A recent summary of research produced by a task force of psychologists and educational researchers associated with the National Association for Gifted Children and the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented indicated that high-ability students are generally at least as well adjusted as any other group of youngsters. This research also…

Educators often exclude socially maladjusted children (SMA) from a proper education due to serious disruptive behavior. Never the less, these children are entitled to services under section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. While SMA children are indeed difficult to educate, review of the associated literature suggests that methods to…

This booklet presents 28 model programs for dealing with substance abuse which are currently used in New Jersey public schools. These programs are arranged in three categories based on the services which they provide: prevention (an attempt to avoid substance abuse problems before they appear); intervention (helping abusers who risk developing…

The concept of entrapment, viewed as a conceptual framework for social interaction skills training, is a behavioral process whereby newly acquired social responses come under the control of naturally occurring reinforcers, usually the social behavior of peers. Selection of target behaviors and intervention procedures to promote entrapment are…

Focusing on the social and emotional characteristics of gifted students in general, and underachievers in particular, the sixteen articles in this ready-reference also provide an introduction to appropriate counseling methods for the gifted. Key features include: (1) Expert Sidney M. Moon's comprehensive analysis of some of the most influential…

This study reports how often residence hall personnel felt potential problems occurred among residents and also how interested they were in receiving help on the problems. The general problems that emerge are career preparation and choice, personal and social adjustment, and behavioral control. (Author)

Evaluates effects of age of initial intervention on hearing-impaired children's academic achievement, social-emotional adjustment, and speech comprehension. Early intervention was not associated with improved performance in any dependent measures. (Author/BB)

The paper addresses the view that many of the secondary students suspended or excluded from school for disruptive behavior may be socially/emotionally handicapped. The legal and service delivery implications of this position are discussed within the context of current Australian special education policy. (DB)

This paper reviews research relevant to the adjustment of adults with learning disabilities (LD) in the areas of academic, occupation/vocational, social, and personal/emotional functioning. After an introduction, methodological concerns are raised in the areas of sampling, definitions, experimental designs, and instrumentation. The review…

A coat was adapted for a 20-year-old severely handicapped woman to control her practice of "mouthing" her hands and clothing. Velcro strips attached to the coat held the student's arms down long enough to allow for differential reinforcement of appropriate behavior, which successfully reduced the rate of mouthing. (JDD)

Measures the degree to which group guidance and small group counseling generated positive change in the social acceptance and self-esteem of normal and socially inefficacious adolescents. Both methods enhanced the social acceptability of the adolescents, with partial gains recorded in self-esteem. Recommends a combination of both methods. (RJM)

Focuses on the nature of peer relationships of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) children, including relationship problems that are commonly manifested in the areas of academic, conduct, and social problems. Finds that children with ADHD experience numerous peer difficulties and may benefit from specially designed intervention. (SD)