Children & Stress : Helping Children Cope / Abigail Stahl McNamee, Ed.

Written by professional psychologists, the 10 articles collected in this bulletin focus on stressful experiences that, when inappropriately responded to, can result in developmental problems for children. Stress factors are conceptualized as being either direct or indirect, or internal or external. Articles are organized in terms of these four dimensions. Two of the articles discuss direct, internal factors associated with stress: organically based learning disabilities and children's self-defeating misperceptions of self and others. Seven articles focus on direct, external stress factors, including hospitalization, death, divorce, child abuse, birth or adoption of a sibling, school problems, and disastrous international and natural events. The remaining article, examining a type of indirect, external stress, indicates developmental stress points associated with increasing levels of exposure to media. Generally, all 10 articles, as well as the introduction, attempt to present the specific nature of the stress factor discussed, describe children's perceptions of and reactions to specific stressful life experiences, and delineate internal and external resources available for helping children cope with stress. Frequently, specific suggestions for intervention are provided for parents and teachers. (RH)

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