Borderline Personality Disorder,Divorce and Family Therapy: The Need for Family Crisis Intervention Strategies

Recent literature reviews, point out the lack of crisis intervention and crisis prevention programs that are in existence to address crises experienced by first-degree and divorced family members of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) probands. The focus of such intervention programs should be to facilitate the improved ability of the first-degree and divorced family members to manage and transcend the unstable family environment. Correlations between personal instability and frequency of psychosocial crises have been examined, as well as the ripple effect of frequent individual crises on family environments. Reviews of current therapeutic interventions, as well as a synthesis of practical family therapy interventions focusing on breaking the cycle of dysfunctional multi-generational family environments are also examined.     

Dropout policies and trends for students with and without disabilities

Students with and without disabilities are dropping out of school at an alarming rate. However, the precise extent of the problem remains elusive because individual schools, school districts, and state departments of education often use different definitional criteria and calculation methods. In addition, specific reasons why students drop out continues to be speculative and minimal research exists validating current dropout prevention programs for students with and without disabilities. This study examined methods secondary school principals used to calculate dropout rates, reasons they believed students dropped out of school, and what prevention programs were being used for students with and without disabilities. Results indicated that school districts used calculation methods that minimized dropout rates, students with and without disabilities dropped out for similar reasons, and few empirically validated prevention programs were being implemented. Implications for practice and directions for future research are discussed.     

What works in prevention. Principles of effective prevention programs

The high prevalence of drug abuse, delinquency, youth violence, and other youth problems creates a need to identify and disseminate effective prevention strategies. General principles gleaned from effective interventions may help prevention practitioners select, modify, or create more effective programs. Using a review-of-reviews approach across 4 areas (substance abuse, risky sexual behavior, school failure, and juvenile delinquency and violence), the authors identified 9 characteristics that were consistently associated with effective prevention programs: Programs were comprehensive, included varied teaching methods, provided sufficient dosage, were theory driven, provided opportunities for positive relationships, were appropriately timed, were socioculturally relevant, included outcome evaluation, and involved well-trained staff. This synthesis can inform the planning and implementation of problem-specific prevention interventions, provide a rationale for multi-problem prevention programs, and serve as a basis for further research.     

Theoretical, Developmental & Cultural Orientations of School-Based Prevention Programs for Preschoolers

Schools are the primary environment in which to conduct prevention programs for school-age children. Educators, policy makers, and psychologist argue that prevention efforts should begin as early as possible to maximize their effectiveness. Surprisingly, there are relatively few school-based prevention programs targeted for preschoolers. Given the evidence supporting earlier rather than later prevention efforts and the fact that many children in the United States attend preschool programs, more research on the feasibility and effectiveness of prevention programs administered in preschool environments is warranted. In this article, we review the existing literature on school-based prevention programs targeted for preschool children. We examine whether school-based prevention programs are theory driven, developmentally appropriate, culturally sensitive, and aimed specifically at symptom reduction or behavior promotion. Based on the findings of this review, our aim is to identify gaps in the prevention research literature regarding programs for preschoolers and propose research to address such gaps to create more effective school-based prevention programs for young children.     

The Role of Families and Care Givers as Risk and Protective Factors in Preventing Youth Violence

This paper reviews research which discusses the risk and protective functions that families and other caregivers provide in influencing the development of aggressive behavior in youth. Currently, there is an emphasis on providing violence prevention programs in the school environment, typically with little parental or caregiver involvement. By enhancing the role of families and caregivers in youth violence prevention programs, we assert that an unique opportunity exists to both address specific risk factors for violence while enhancing the protective features of the family. Relatedly, the risk literature on youth violence indicates that the most influential risk factors (i.e., the family, community, and peers) have their principle impact on youth aggression outside the school. We suggest a shift in the focus of violence prevention programming that is more inclusive of families as both a risk and protective agent. In support of this position, relevant theory and reviews of exemplary family-involved programs are offered. Challenges to involving youth caregivers are identified and recommendations for overcoming those challenges suggested. Last, recommendations for future research and public policy in the prevention of youth violence are offered.     

青少年网络成瘾的预防与干预研究

网络成瘾障碍(Internet Addiction Disorder,IAD)已成为影响青少年身心健康和正常学业表现的重要因素。针对青少年网络成瘾的心理预防与干预研究已开展逾十年,分析与总结显示,已有研究采用个体、团体等不同干预模式,采用认知行为、动机激发等不同咨询与治疗理论,对青少年网络成瘾行为的干预进行了大量探索;其中以团体干预模式及认知行为疗法为主导,并呈现多模式多理论相融合的趋势。借鉴已有研究的成果与不足,我们采用家庭治疗、认知行为、动机激发等多种咨询与治疗理论,结合心理需求网络满足优势等网络成瘾理论,形成了个体-家庭-学校的多水平预防与干预方案,并得到了实证研究的检验。今后的研究应进一步考虑青少年网络成瘾的生理因素,将生物-心理-社会三方面相结合形成系统性的网络成瘾预防与干预模式。     

Prevention that works for children and youth. An introduction

The widespread implementation of effective prevention programs for children and youth is a sound investment in society's future. The most beneficial preventive interventions for young people involve coordinated, systemic efforts to enhance their social-emotional competence and health. The articles in this special issue propose standards for empirically supported programming worthy of dissemination and steps to integrate prevention science with practice. They highlight key research findings and common principles for effective programming across family, school, community, health care, and policy interventions and discuss their implications for practice. Recent advances in prevention research and growing support for evidence-based practice are encouraging developments that will increase the number of children and youth who succeed and contribute in school and life.     

Preventing Classroom Discipline Problems

This paper focuses on the effective schools and schooling literature as a basis for promoting student success and preventing classroom misbehavior and discipline problems. By facilitating such success, it is suggested that many discipline problems can be avoided and that school staffs will be able to focus even more of their attention to quality, effective education and instruction. System-wide, school building, classroom, teacher, and student-specific practices are all discussed as they relate to effective schools and schooling and to the prevention of student discipline problems. The conclusion notes that successful prevention programs save time, money, and effort, but that they must be systematically planned to meet the needs of the students, school district, and community alike.     

Substance Abuse Prevention:

Components of a successful substance abuse prevention program are discussed. Substance use and abuse trends in school-aged populations are briefly reviewed. Prevention program strategies deemed desirable through recent research efforts are incorporated in describing a model program. Educational approaches and substance abuse intervention strategies are differentiated. Program planning guideliens are presented and discussed. These guidelines are designed to establish and maintain school and community support for prevention programs.     

The Treatment of Test Anxiety in Elementary School-Age Children

Test anxiety has a dramatic impact upon a surprisingly large segment of the school population. Although test anxiety has been extensively studied for decades, little research has focused on intervention programs for younger school children. This paper discussed the conceptual framework of test anxiety and the resulting intervention philosophy from these different theoretical formulations. Assessment procedures for children are reviewed. Different kinds of intervention programs are discussed, compared and evaluated. These include systematic desensitization, cognitive restructuring, and educational approaches such as study skills training and modeling. Recommendations are made to enhance the existing research. Suggestions for future research are presented.     

After School Care for Children on the Autism Spectrum

Few programs exist for after school care designed to support children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Not only do parents often depend on after school care, but also children with ASD are likely to benefit from opportunities to generalize skills in an authentic setting and interact with typically developing peers. This lack of support occurs at a time during which there is increasing research and community awareness regarding the need for high quality after school programs to support typically developing children. This study investigates reported experiences with and needs for after school care by parents of children with ASD. Survey results (N = 54) revealed that the majority of parents surveyed desired after school programs within their child’s school but are often denied access to such services or received low quality care for their child in after school programs. Recommendations are provided for future research and program development.     

STEM enrichment programs and graduate school matriculation: the role of science identity salience

Improving the state of science education in the United States has become a national priority. One response to this problem has been the implementation of STEM enrichment programs designed to increase the number of students that enter graduate programs in science. Current research indicates enrichment programs have positive effects for student performance, degree completion, interest in science and graduate enrollment. Moreover, research suggests that beyond improving performance in STEM, and providing access to research experience and faculty mentoring, enrichment programs may also increase the degree to which students identify as scientists. However, researchers investigating the role of science identity on student outcomes have focused primarily on subjective outcomes, leaving a critical question of whether science identity also influences objective outcomes such as whether students attend graduate school. Using identity theory, this study addresses this issue by investigating science identity as a mechanism linking enrichment program participation to matriculation into graduate science programs. Quantitative results from a panel study of 694 students indicate that science identity salience, along with research experience and college GPA, mediate the effect of enrichment program participation on graduate school matriculation. Further, results indicate that although the social psychological process by which science identity salience develops operates independently from student GPA, science identity amplifies the effect of achievement on graduate school matriculation. These results indicate that policies seeking to increase the efficacy of enrichment programs and increase representation in STEM graduate programs should be sensitive to the social and academic aspects of STEM education.     

A Review of Existing Relational Aggression Programs: Strengths, Limitations, and Future Directions

Research suggests that involvement in relational aggression is associated with serious adjustment problems, including concurrent and future social maladjustment (e.g., problematic friendships; rejection), internalizing problems (e.g., depressive symptoms), and school avoidance. Despite the burgeoning literature focusing on the harmful and damaging nature of relationally aggressive behavior, this research has only recently begun to be used to inform school-based prevention and intervention programming. This article reviews the developmental research related to relational aggression and presents a systematic examination of nine published school-based prevention and intervention programs to prevent relational aggression. Programs reviewed target preschool through eighth-grade students. Strengths and limitations of each program are discussed. Recommendations are offered for future research to develop and validate school-based programming for relational aggression, and implications for school psychologists are discussed.     

Suicide Prevention in an Educational Context: Broad and Narrow Foci

This paper reviews the needs and conceptual bases of school-based youth suicide prevention programs, summarizes their current status, and recommends objectives, processes, and evaluation strategies for focused educational programs in this area. In addition, a broad systemic approach is called for that reorganizes the school context to increase students' contributions to and involvement with the educational process. Such approaches appear to have been effective with a variety of youth deviant behaviors such as dropout and delinquency, and seem to be particularly appropriate to suicidal behavior that is characterized by alienation and withdrawal from social supports. A combination of these broad and narrow foci may be necessary to address suicidal behavior in the educational context.     

What works in secondary schools? A systematic review of classroom-based body image programs

Governments, schools, and curriculum authorities are increasingly recognizing that body image during adolescence is a public health issue that warrants attention in the school setting. After 30 years of eating disorder prevention research, and given the current interest in this area, it seems timely to review the research on interventions to improve body image in schools. We reviewed universal-selective, classroom-based programs that have been conducted since the year 2000, among adolescents, and found 16 eligible intervention programs. Seven of these programs were effective in improving body image on at least one measure, from pre to post test, though effect sizes were small (d = 0.22–0.48). These effective programs were conducted among younger adolescents 12.33–13.62 years, and included activities focusing on media literacy, self esteem, and the influence of peers. Implications for school personnel and curriculum authorities are discussed, and we provide recommendations for a strategic approach to future research in this area.     

Approaches to Adolescent Smoking Cessation and Education

The role of the school in the control of smoking among adolescents is explored. Incidence and trends of smoking among youth are discussed and health consequences of smoking are explored. The role of the school in smoking prevention, cessation, and regulation also is described. Innovative educational strategies to prevent smoking are reviewed and model programs are described. School-based smoking cessation programs are reviewed and suggstions are made for the development of local programs. School policies on smoking are given. Recommendations are given for a comprehensive school program to control smoking.     

Social Problem-Solving Training With Children: A Guide to Effective Practice

School-based, social problem-solving (SPS) training with children offers promise both for the prevention and remediation of social maladjustment. This article describes the SPS approach and offers rationales for its integration into the school curriculum. Illustrative SPS programs are next reviewed and compared in terms of relative strengths and application potential. Practical guidelines are offered for conducting of effective SPS interventions jointly by school mental health and teaching staffs. The article concludes with a brief consideration of future applied SPS research directions.     

School readiness. Integrating cognition and emotion in a neurobiological conceptualization of children's functioning at school entry

The author examines the construct of emotionality, developmental relations between cognition and emotion, and neural plasticity and frontal cortical functioning and proposes a developmental neurobiological model of children's school readiness. Direct links are proposed among emotionality, use-dependent synaptic stabilization related to the prefrontal cortex, the development of executive function abilities, and academic and social competence in school settings. The author considers research on the efficacy of preschool compensatory education in promoting school readiness and recommends that programs expand to include curricula directly addressing social and emotional competence. Research should focus on the ontogeny of self-regulation and successful adaptation to the socially defined role of student, the development of prevention research programs to reflect this orientation, and interdisciplinary collaborations that integrate scientific methods and questions in the pursuit of comprehensive knowledge of human developmental processes.