Common problems and coping strategies reported in childhood and early adolescence

This research investigated problems commonly experienced by children and young adolescents, and the strategies they use to cope with these events. Six hundred seventy-six children, ages 9–13 years, were asked to identify a problem they recently experienced and to describe the strategies they used to cope with it. In addition, they were also asked to complete a scale describing how they coped with a common problem (being grounded by parents). In general, we found that children reported four common Stressors: parents, siblings, school, and friends. These Stressors were the same across age and sex; however, the coping strategies employed differed by age and type of problem. Both age and sex effects were found in reported use of coping strategies to deal with being grounded by parents. The results of this study suggest that more research must be performed to offset the lack of data in the area of children's normative coping. The implications of the findings for clinical assessment and treatment of children are discussed.He has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University. Current research interests include coping strategies used by healthy and chronically ill children, and attempted suicide in adolescence.She has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from West Virginia University. Her current research interests include coping in chronically ill children and feeding difficulties in children with cystic fibrosis.She received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Louisiana State University. Her current research interests include pediatric psychology and childhood anxiety disorders.His current research interests include behavioral consultation in industrial settings.     

Book reviews

Central Asia and Transcaucasia: Ethnicity and Conflict Vitaly V. Naumkin (editor) Westport, CT.: Greenwood Publishing Group, 1994, 239 pp, $60.00

Turks and Greeks: Neighbours in Conflict Vamik Volkan and Norman Itzkowitz Huntingdon, Cambs: Eothen Press, 233 pp, biblio, ISBN 0906719 25 9 £24.95 hardback; ISBN 0906719 30 5 £12.50 paperback

Moguls and Mandarins: Oil, Imperialism and the Middle East in British Foreign Policy, 1900–1940 Marian Kent Frank Cass Publishers, 1994, viii‐169, pp bibliography, index, $70.00

Central Asia: Its Strategic Importance and Future Prospects Hafeez Malik (editor) London: Macmillan Press, 1994, 337 pp, £47.50

Religion, State and Politics in the Soviet Union and Successor States John Anderson Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994, 236 pp, index, biblio., hardback £35/$54.95, paperback £14.95/$18.95

China Considers the Middle East Lillian Craig Harris London: I. B. Tauris, 1993, 345 pp, £34.50

Splendours of the Bosphorus: Houses and Palaces of Istanbul Chris Hellier London: Taurus Parke, 1993, 228 pp, index, £35

The Remaking of Istanbul Zeynep Celik Berkeley: University of California Press, 1993, 183 pp, paperback

Afghan Embroidery Bernard Dupaigne, Françoise Cousin and Roland Pavia Paris: Fondation de France, Musee de l'Homme and UNHCR, 1993, 136 pp, illus.