Dimensions of Emotional Intelligence and Their Relationships with Social Coping Among Gifted Adolescents in Hong Kong

Two hundred and fifty-nine gifted adolescents were assessed on their emotional intelligence and social coping strategies using the Emotional Intelligence Scale (N. S. Schutte et al., Personality and Individual Differences, 25, 167–177, 1998) and the Social Coping Questionnaire (M. A. Swiatek, Gifted Child Quaterly, 39, 154–161, 1995). An item factor analysis yielded four dimensions of emotional intelligence, leading to the construction of 4 empirical scales of emotional intelligence. Students scored most highly on Social Skills and Self-Management of Emotions, followed by Empathy, and Utilization of Emotions. In coping with their being gifted, students endorsed to different degrees their use of 6 coping strategies, which were Valuing Peer Acceptance, Involvement in Activities, Attempting Avoidance, Denying Giftedness, Prizing Conformity, and Discounting Popularity. Social Skills emerged as the most important component of emotional intelligence predicting the use of strategies of Valuing Peer Acceptance and Involvement in Activities. Implications of the findings for enhancing emotional intelligence of adolescents in coping with problems arising from their being gifted and the need for further studies using longitudinal data are discussed.     

Adolescents Coping with Poverty-Related Family Stress: Prospective Predictors of Coping and Psychological Symptoms

Examined prospective associations among poverty-related family stress, coping, involuntary stress reactivity, and psychological symptoms in a sample of 79 rural, low-income adolescents. Poverty-related family stress predicted adolescents’ anxious/depressed and aggressive behavior 8 months later, controlling for prior symptoms. Coping interacted with initial symptoms and involuntary stress reactivity to predict changes in symptoms over time, showing that primary and secondary control coping were most strongly associated with changes in symptoms for adolescents with low initial symptoms and involuntary stress reactivity. The only significant predictor of coping over time was prior coping, suggesting that coping is not symptom-driven and may be somewhat trait-like. Implications for interventions and additional research are offered. Assistant Professor, University of Denver. Received PhD from University of Vermont. Research interests include the effects of poverty on family functioning, developmental issues in stress and coping, and developmental psychopathology Doctoral student in Clinical Psychology, University of Denver. Research interests include close relationship influences on adolescent development and psychopathology.     

Coping with Interpersonal Stress and Psychosocial Health Among Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis

This meta-analysis examines the relationship between active coping and psychosocial health among youth. Results from 40 studies of coping with interpersonal stress were synthesized using a random-effects model. Four areas of psychosocial functioning were examined: externalizing and internalizing behavior problems, social competence, and academic performance. The magnitude of the relationship between active coping and psychosocial functioning was small, with correlations ranging from 0.02 for internalizing behavior to 0.12 for academic performance. Mean effects were moderated by stressor controllability: youth who used active coping in response to controllable stressors had fewer externalizing problems and higher social competence, as compared to those who used active coping in response to uncontrollable stressors. Implications for primary prevention programs and directions for future research on child and adolescent coping are discussed.

Coping With Relationship Stressors: The Impact of Different Working Models of Attachment and Links to Adaptation

The study explores the role of working models of attachment in the process of coping with relationship stressors with a focus on long-term adaptation. In a 7-year longitudinal study of 112 participants, stress and coping were assessed during adolescence and emerging adulthood. In addition, working models of attachment were assessed by employing the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI). Individuals classified as having secure working models experienced low stress in relationships with parents, peers, and romantic partners and dealt with relationship stressors more actively by using their social network during adolescence and at the age of 21 years. In contrast, individuals with preoccupied working models experienced high relationship stress, particularly in relationships with parents, and employed less adaptive coping styles over time. Regression analyses revealed that although a preoccupied working model of attachment and withdrawal coping explained variance in symptomatology, relationship stressors were more predictive of poor psychological adaptation. Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Mainz, Germany. Received a PhD in psychology from the University of Giessen, Germany. Research interests concern relationship development in adolescence and emerging adulthood, with a focus on stress and coping. To whom correspondence should be addressed at Department of Psychology, University of Mainz, Staudinger Weg, D-50999 Mainz, Germany.     

关注艾滋病对老年妇女的影响

老年妇女同样面临感染艾滋病风险,她们的感染人数在悄然增长。子女感染艾滋病病毒后,对老年妇女的经济、健康、心理和晚年保障各方面产生严重后果。在广大发展中国家,她们还担负着照料和支持艾滋病子女的重要角色。在以往艾滋病的研究和行动中,公众、研究者和决策者都忽略了艾滋病对处于年龄和性别双重弱势地位的老年妇女的影响,妇女在艾滋病相关工作中很少得到关注和重视。因此,有必要了解艾滋病对老年妇女的影响并研究应采取的对策。     

Policymaking for Vexatious Problems

Idealized policymaking may aspire to solve problems, but the nature of vexatious problems is to resist solution. In these cases, coping and its variants, like accommodation, avoidance, ambiguity, indirection, and improvisation may be more suitable than the pursuit of solution. Two illustrations concerned with the problematic city of Jerusalem demonstrate the possibilities and the pitfalls that may be associated with coping: (1) negotiations involving Israelis and Palestinians; and (2) tensions between religious and secular Jews.     

An exploration of attitudes and support needs of police officer negotiators involved in suicide negotiation

This study explored the attitudes and support needs of police officer negotiators involved in suicide negotiation. A qualitative approach was adopted, applying principles of grounded theory research. Purposive sampling was used and 16 semi-structured interviews conducted. Strategies and processes taught during training for the role constituted an important support mechanism. The lack of formal processes to support participants’ well-being was reported although effective peer support network amongst negotiators existed. Mental health awareness and suicide intervention training should be considered key for police officers, who are first responders. Robust procedures are needed to support the emotional well-being of police negotiators.     

Are We Being Served? Emotional Labour in Local Government in Victoria,Australia

This paper explores how front‐line street‐level bureaucrats (SLBs) cope with the expectations of citizens, clients, or ‘customers’ in daily work and how SLBs may be impacted by emotional labour. The study analyses data from 41 interviews with SLBs in local councils in Victoria, Australia. Although exploratory, it builds awareness and understanding of the emotional labour associated with public service. The situations that SLBs engage with on a daily basis are many and varied and take the form of increased expectations and intense encounters. Respondents experienced abuse, threats, violence, but also ‘sparkle moments’. Resources that helped SLBs cope are diverse and located both within and outside organisations. Implications are discussed and issues that merit additional investigation are raised concerning how SLBs can be supported to better meet the demands of the public. The research is of value to public managers and SLBs operating in a changing society with increased ‘customer’ expectations.     

刑事简易程序出庭应对机制研究

应新刑诉法要求基层检察机关公诉人全面出席简易程序案件庭审,这虽是刑诉法中程序公正的必然要求,但公诉人该如何兼顾公正与效率,却是一道亟待解决的难题.通过对重庆市南岸区人民检察院受理的案件数量、公诉人办案情况以及出庭经验的分析、总结,对建立科学合理的简易程序出庭应对机制进行了研究.     

Adolescents Values Clarification and Development: A Model for Group Counseling

Youths involved with the juvenile justice and child welfare systems report higher rates of early initiation of sexual intercourse, more sexual partners, and lower rates of condom use compared with the general adolescent population. Such risky behaviors leave system-involved youths with volatile behavioral challenges and negative sexual health outcomes, such as unintended pregnancy. These effects can be attributed to detached support systems and a lack of early interventions, such as group therapy. This dynamic fosters further inquiry into asking, can delinquent teenagers who adopt a values clarification approach and understanding exhibit positive prosocial thoughts and behaviors? The intent of this paper is to discuss an alternative education program for pregnant, delinquent adolescents and young mothers allowed a social worker and his associates to implement a group counseling program. The counseling was intended to emphasize values clarification and values development. The counselors focused on attitudes, social views, and desired behaviors related to values. A unique aspect of the program was the development of a four-phase cognitive process related to values clarification and development. This process includes the discovery and awareness of values, the claiming and reclaiming of values, the acceptance of core values, and the appreciation and advocacy of the values phase. A content analysis methodology was used to analyze a self-report methods so that insights into cultural trends and experiences could be understood. Findings from the adoption of this program suggest a psychoeducation humanistic model can not only buffer teenage pregnancy risk and delinquency but also strengthen values and the moral development of troubled youth.