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According to the revised social problem-solving model, problem solving skills should be associated with cognitive and behavioral attempts to solve or prevent personal problems. We reasoned that the Approach-Avoidance scale on the Problem-Solving Inventory (PSI; Heppner, 1988) measures problem-solving skills as defined in the model, and predicted that scores on this factor would be predictive of health-compromising behaviors among 96 undergraduate students. An aspect of the problem-orientation component would be predictive of global health perceptions. Ineffective problem-solving skills were associated with greater alcohol intake over a 2-week period, and with more sedentary leisure behavior on retrospective and prospective measures. Perceived control over emotions was predictive of health perceptions, as hypothesized. However, elements of problem solving were unrelated to tobacco use, illicit drug use, and exercise behaviors.

Lightsey's (1996) work on subjective well-being explores an important area of counseling psychology research. He identifies several psychological characteristics that he calls 'psychological resources' and links these with psychological and physical health. However, the study suffers from several weaknesses, including Lightsey's disregard for learning theory and his random use of isolated facts, correlational data, deterministic models and select variables

Describes a six-session psychoeducational program for training vocational rehabilitation counselors in group dynamics. Presents evaluation of program by counselors (N=15) in which leadership styles, conflict management, and typology of group tasks concepts were rated as most beneficial. (Author/ABL)

The articles included in this special issue have presented a balance of reviewing and synthesizing the literatures, translating what has been learned into guidance relevant to practice, and addressing future directions. This summary article briefly highlights some of the new contributions of the four topical articles and concludes that considerable work remains, particularly for counseling psychology, to continue to enhance the integration of these fields.

Social cognitive variables are salient factors in the prevention, development, and maintenance of health-related problems. These variables are of particular interest to counseling psychologists, as they are amenable to a variety of psychological interventions. We review several social-cognitive processes that have been studied in relation to behavioral health and health-related problems. We then discuss implications for assessment and theory-based interventions.

This article briefly discusses some circumscribed important areas where social and counseling psychology interface. Some of the historical routes of the interface are noted and the effect of this work is addressed. It is concluded that considerable progress has been made in translating social psychology research into counseling research and practice but that much more remains to be investigated. We note that most of the research and practice advances have come from social to counseling psychology. Counseling psychologists are encouraged to contribute to the interface and advance our general knowledge of human behavior. The article concludes by introducing the four companion articles in this special issue and the final summary article.

A group 20 experts came to a uniform conclusion that psychology has a positive future in public health care, with increasing applicabilities of psychology in health care. Psychologists should acquire new methodologies to compete in the market, and they should be informed about the changing health care systems. The experts are from different fields of practice and research on issues of training and public policy.

In the work we present in this article, we examined the contaminating effects of trait negative affectivity (TNA) on the relations between social support and psychological distress among college undergraduates. In the first study, it was suspected that controlling for TNA would substantially alter the associations between social support (as measured by the Social Provisions Scale) and depression at the initial assessment and later with negative mood prior to a course examination. Actual results from cross-sectional hierarchical regression analyses revealed that controlling for TNA reduced - but did not nullify - associations between reassurance of worth support and depression. TNA did not mediate the relation of reliable alliance support to state NA measured 2 weeks later prior to a course examination. Finally, a second study controlling for TNA found reassurance of worth support remained a significant prospective predictor of depression during the week of final examinations. Results are integrated with theoretical and measurement issues in social support research.