Robert F. Schilling

Cigarette smoking cessation attempts by recovering alcoholics

Survey data on the smoking cessation experiences of 77 recovering alcoholics are reported. A comparison of successful and unsuccessful quitters addressed questions about optimal timing of cessation efforts, relative severity of alcohol and tobacco abuse histories, and the impact of cessation efforts on the maintenance of sobriety. Findings suggest that recovering alcoholics can successfully quit smoking without jeopardizing sobriety but that individuals with more severe substance abuse histories may be less successful. Although successful quitters tended to wait longer before attempting cessation, a comparison of the two groups was not statistically significant.

Coping with a handicapped child: Differences between mothers and fathers

This paper considers coping styles of mothers and fathers of handicapped children. Cautioning against stereotyping, the authors find that mothers and fathers differ in how they appraise and cope with the stress of rearing a developmentally disabled child. The need for systematic investigation of gender-related coping styles in families with handicapped children is discussed.

The double triumph: Sustained sobriety and successful cigarette smoking cessation ☆

Conventional practice wisdom has long shielded alcohol treatment center clients from social and medical pressures to quit smoking. But, recent findings of increased cancer risk are forcing a re-examination of traditional practices. Detailed case histories of 14 recovering alcoholics who successfully quit smoking suggest the feasibility of cessation efforts even in the face of severe substance abuse histories.

Skills Methods to Prevent Smoking

School health educators have devoted much attention to cigarette smoking. Recent years have seen the testing of interventions to prevent smoking. To date, controlled studies have not evaluated the added value of skills methods for preventing smoking. This article describes such an evaluation with sixth-grade students from two schools. Subjects were pretested and randomly assigned to receive conventional health education methods or to receive skills intervention. Both conditions included films, peer testimonials, discussions, and homework. Health education condition subjects additionally participated in oral quizzes, games, and debates. Skills condition subjects additionally learned problem-solving, self-instruction, and interpersonal communication methods. At postintervention, skills condition subjects, more than health education condition subjects, had better scores on measures of smoking-related knowledge, attitudes, and intentions. In addition, reported cigarette use, validated by biochemical data collection, was lower in the skills condition than in the health education condition at all postintervention measurements, including a 24-month follow-up. The article discusses the strengths, limits, and implications of the study for other smoking prevention efforts in schools.

Personal coping and social support for parents of handicapped children

Abstract Human services workers have long recognized that parents of handicapped children experience inordinate stresses. In recent years investigators have examined how such families deal with stress. This paper discusses stress in families of developmentally disabled children and how parents of special needs children draw on personal and social coping strategies to manage daily challenges. An overview of existing research is followed by a prescription for research on stress, personal coping, and social support. The authors call for prevention strategies to prevent stress-related maltreatment of special needs children.

Skills-building methods to prevent smoking by adolescents

This study evaluated cigarette smoking prevention methods with a sample of adolescent females and males. Arranged by school, 331 informed and consenting sixth graders were randomly divided into four groups: 1) pretest, skills-building methods, posttest; 2) pretest, discussion methods, posttest; 3) pretest and posttest; and 4) posttest only. All subjects were followed for 6 and 15 months after the posttest. Outcome results on measures of non-smoking intentions, attitudes, predictions, problem-solving abilities, and peer interactions favored subjects in the skills-building group when compared with subjects in the discussion and pretest-posttest control groups. Smoking rates at posttest and at both follow-ups were lower in the skills-building group than in the other three groups. Results from posttest-only subjects did not support pretest reactivity. The studys strengths and limits are discussed along with directions for future smoking prevention research.

Preventing Substance Abuse with American Indian Youth

Substance abuse is one of the worst problems experienced by American Indian people. In this article, methods to prevent substance abuse among Indian young people are described and the future implications of drug and alcohol abuse prevention efforts with Indian youth are discussed.

Stress-management intervention to prevent family violence

Stress and its management influence the nature of family interactions. Harmful family interactions, including violent interactions, are likely affected by mismanaged stress. This paper reviews scientific evidence on stress concepts, sources, and treatment strategies. Particular emphasis is given to the potential of stress-management preventive intervention for reducing the risk of family violence. Based on a study with teenage parents, the authors describe procedures and results from clinical stress-management preventive intervention. Study findings noted post-test and 3- month follow-up improvements in favor of preventive intervention subjects relative to test-only control subjects on measures of personal and social support, cognitive problem solving, self-reinforcement, parenting competence and care, and interpersonal performance. Consumer satisfaction from teenage parents who received intervention lent additional support to the value of stress-management preventive methods. The paper discusses the implications, limitations, and future directions of stress-management preventive intervention to lower risks of family violence.

Definitions and methods for prevention research with youth and families

This paper proposes a new definitional model and improved methods for human services prevention research with youth and families. The proposed model defines prevention as knowledge-based, group intervention aimed at helping at-risk youth and families build skills and social supports to enhance interpersonal and environmental competence and to manage stress. Based on this definition, the authors suggest methods for improving prevention research. Those methods begin with risk assessment. Risk assessment, in turn, provides a basis for three levels of preventive intervention: universal, selective, and indicated. Each intervention level is discussed, with particular attention given to selective and indicated interventions because of their relevance for human services with youth and families. Finally, the paper notes the implications and future research directions for new models and levels of human services prevention with youth and families.