Based on a sample of 103 schizophrenics, this paper utilizes path analysis to examine the interrelationships among a number of patient and residence characteristics on different network dimensions. Residents' social competence was consistently found to maintain the strongest association with many of the outside‐facility network dimensions. Despite the mediation of a third of its effect through social competence, decreased periods of hospitalization remained a significant influence in these equations. Residential facilities emphasizing autonomy contributed minimally to some of the external network domains. Conversely, less demanding residential programs and lengthy periods of hospitalization were significantly associated with the within‐facility network dimension. Neither premorbid social adjustment nor length of tenure within a residence had a direct effect on any network dimension in the complete model. Treatment and policy implications are discussed based on the differential determinants of network dimensions found in this study.

With a population of 78 residents from a residential drug program and 79 residents from a shelter for runaways, this study examined the Rational Behavior Inventory's ability to predict two forms of adolescent maladjustment—drug use and running away. Specific belief systems were found to be differentially associated with each disorder. In addition, gender differences along two belief dimensions of the RBI were found in the drug abuse population. The importance of belief systems as mediating cognitive factors in both running away and drug use also is discussed.

Using commonality analysis, a method of partitioning variance into shared and unique components, this study examined the relative importance of irrational beliefs and sets of family factors in predicting adolescent substance abuse. The data revealed both mothers' and fathers' child-rearing practices and adolescents' irrational beliefs to be independent predictors. Moreover, the constellation of child-rearing practices to emerge, which was reflective of achievement pressure and conditional approval, corresponded with the subset of irrational belief dimensions of the adolescent abusers, which was suggestive of approval anxiety. The implications for clinical treatment of adolescent substance abusers and future studies incorporating different substance-abusing populations were also explored.

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The author examines adolescent suicide, drug use, and runaway behavior using Lazarus's cognitive theory of stress and coping. Cognitive factors associated with primary appraisal and secondary appraisal are discussed with respect to each of these forms of maladjustment.