The authors examined symptoms of posttraumatic stress in 3rd-5th grade children during the school year after Hurricane Andrew. From a conceptual model of the effects of traumatic events, 442 children were evaluated 3, 7, and 10 months postdisaster with respect to (a) their exposure to traumatic events during and after the disaster, (b) their preexisting demographic characteristics, (c) the occurrence of major lifk stressors, (d) the availability of social support, and (e) the type of coping strategies used to cope with disaster-related distress. Although symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) declined over time, a substantial level of symptomatology was observed up to 10 months alter the disaster. All 5 factors in the conceptual model were predictive of children's PTSD symptoms 7 and 10 months postdisaster. Findings are discussed in terms of the potential utility of the model for organizing thinking about factors that predict the emergence and persistence of PTSD symptoms in children.The extent of pain, anguish, and suffering caused by Hurricane Andrew, one of the worst natural disasters ever to occur in the history of the United States, is difficult to convey. This Level 4 hurricane, with winds exceeding 160 miles per hour, destroyed or severely damaged over 125,000 homes in an area of 400 square miles, leaving 175,000 children and families temporarily homeless, bewildered, and without adequate food or supplies (Miami Herald Press, 1992). In the wake of such a devastating natural disaster, one could not help but wonder about the children. What were their reactions? Would their reactions persist over time? Can children who may show long-term reactions be identified? And, what factors influence changes in reactions over time? Unfortunately, no clear answers to these important questions could be drawn from the clinical research or disaster literature.

Many people exposed to climate-related or weather-related disasters experience stress and serious mental health consequences. Depending on the type of the disaster, these consequences include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and general anxiety, which often occur at the same time [Very High Confidence]. The majority of affected people recover over time, although a significant proportion of exposed individuals develop chronic psychological dysfunction [High Confidence].

To assess whether satisfaction with the health-care provider is related to regimen adherence among primarily minority youth with type 1 diabetes. Youth with type 1 diabetes (n = 169; M age = 13.88; 52 % female; 70 % Hispanic) and their parents completed questionnaires that assessed their own satisfaction with the health-care provider and youths' adherence to diabetes self-care behaviors. Higher youth and parent patient-provider relationship satisfaction was associated with higher regimen adherence. Gender affected the relationship between satisfaction and regimen adherence, such that for girls, greater satisfaction was associated with better adherence; this was not the case for boys. Patient satisfaction with the health care provider is important for regimen adherence among primarily minority youth with type 1 diabetes, particularly for girls. Future research might focus on improving youths' relationships with their health care providers as a potential pathway to improve regimen adherence.

Romantic relationships represent an important but relatively understudied aspect of adolescent peer relations. This is surprising given that by age 16 most adolescents have had a romantic relationship (Carver, Joyner, & Udry, 2003). These relationships represent a normative aspect of development and may be beneficial to adolescents' emotional functioning. They provide social support, enhance self-esteem, and prepare adolescents for adult relationships and the development of intimacy (Collins, 2003;Connolly & Goldberg, 1999). At the same time, adolescent romantic relationships can be a significant source of psychosocial distress. Romantic relationships explain 25% to 34% of the strong emotions that high school students experience, and about 42% of these strong emotions are negative feelings, such as anxiety, anger, jealousy, and depression (Larson, Clore, & Wood, 1999). Growing evidence suggests that involvement in dating and romantic relationships during adolescence, particularly if frequent or steady, is associated with internalizing and depressive symptoms (e.g.

No abstract