a b s t r a c tThe associations of personality, affect, trait emotional intelligence (EI) and coping style measured at the start of the academic year with later academic performance were examined in a group of undergraduate students at the University of Edinburgh. The associations of the dispositional and affect measures with concurrent stress and life satisfaction were also examined. The survey was completed by 238 students, of whom 163 gave permission for their end-of-year marks to be accessed. Complete data for modelling stress and academic success were available for 216 and 156 students respectively. The associations of academic success and stress differed, and high stress was not a risk factor for poor academic performance. Further analyses were based on the extraction of three composite factors (Emotional Regulation, Avoidance and Task Focus) from the EI and coping subscales. Structural equation modelling showed that academic performance was predicted by Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, positive affect and the Task Focus factor. Modelling for stress and life satisfaction showed relationships with personality, affect, and the Task Focus and Emotion Regulation factors. The Task Focus factor played a mediating role in both models, and the Emotion Regulation factor acted as a mediator in the model for stress and life satisfaction. The theoretical interpretation of these results, and their potential applications in interventions targeting at-risk students, are discussed.

The associations among emotional intelligence (EI), coping, personality and exam-related stress in a group of 475 Canadian undergraduate students were examined. Stress was measured at the start of the semester and again in the pre-exam period. Higher levels of stress were associated with lower scores on EI components, and higher scores on emotion-focused coping and neuroticism. A scale-level factor analysis of the EI and coping subscales produced three composite factors, which each had high loadings from at least one EI and one coping subscale. The associations of the Emotion Regulation factor (high loadings of several EI components and emotion-focused coping) and the Task Focus factor (high loadings of Adaptability EI and task-focused coping) with personality, stress and subjective wellbeing (SWB) were examined using structural equation modelling. The results showed that these factors mediated the effect of personality on stress and SWB.

Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) present with a number of behavioural, social, and academic challenges. However, the importance of understanding the strengths and abilities of these children should not be overlooked, particularly in the school environment. This brief report highlights the application of positive psychology to a population typically portrayed in a negative light-children with ADHD. Specifically, this article provides an argument for seeking a more positive understanding of children with ADHD and illustrates the necessity of taking a strengths-based approach in working with and supporting these students. Avenues for adopting a strengths-based approach to ADHD within both research and practice are discussed, informed by concepts from related areas of positive psychology, strengths perspectives, and resilience. The benefits of and potential directions for integrating positive psychology frameworks into the ADHD research field are outlined, emphasising the need to link findings to evidence-based practice. Implications for school-based practice will also be examined, highlighting the importance of strengths-based assessment and intervention approaches in school environments so as to provide more positive and well-rounded support for children with ADHD. Ultimately, positive psychology offers a more balanced, holistic, and hopeful approach to a population typically viewed through a deficit lens and has the potential to inspire a greater emphasis on building capacity in these children and their families and schools.

Psychoeducational reports are the primary means for a school psychologist to communicate the results of an assessment. Although reports should be written in the most efficient and reader-friendly manner, this is not always the case. Additionally, problems in report writing have remained relatively consistent for several decades, despite recommendations on how reports should be improved. The focus of the current article is to provide an integrated and easily implemented framework for improving psychoeducational reports based on the evidence and broad recommendations currently available in the literature. Specifically, the C.L.E.A.R. Approach to report writing for practitioners is presented, with practical strategies and examples provided to illustrate the use of the model in a school-based setting. RésuméLe rapport psycho-éducatif est la méthode primaire pour un psychologue d'école afin de communiquer ses résultats obtenus lors d'une évaluation. Ce rapport doit être écrit de façon simple et précis, malheureusement, ce n'est pas toujours ce qui est observé. Canadian Journal of School Psychology 26(2)En effet, certaines difficultés face aux rapports psycho-éducatifs sont demeurées constantes au cours des années, malgré les nombreuses recommandations suggérées. Le but de la recherche présentée ici, consiste à fournir un modèle d'encadrement facile à implanter et à intégrer. Ceci permettra d'améliorer les rapports puisqu'ils sont basés sur les preuves et les vastes recommandations qui sont actuellement disponibles dans la littérature. Spécifiquement, l'accent sera mis sur l'approche "C.L.E.A.R.". Cette approche présente des stratégies pratiques ainsi que des exemples illustrant l'utilisation de ce modèle dans un environnement scolaire.

Social support may provide a target for resilience-based interventions among children with ADHD in promoting their self-concept and well-being.