Control of stress and violent behavior: mid-course review of the 1990 health objectives.

Control of stress and violent behavior is 1 of the 15 priority areas addressed in the 1990 health objectives for the nation. For control of stress, improved awareness of appropriate community service agencies and increased scientific knowledge of stress effects are the main objectives. For control of violent behavior, the objectives focus on three major problems: (a) deaths from homicide among young black males, (b) adolescent suicide, and (c) child abuse. Since the last progress report, published in 1984, more than 200 research projects directly related to these objectives have been funded, and a variety of implementation actions have been undertaken. During this period, baseline data on such critical concerns as homicides among blacks and Hispanics, suicide, family violence, and perceived stress have been obtained, thereby encouraging further study and facilitating achievement of the objectives. The mid-decade status report and recommendations that are presented in this article were initiated in a September 1985 review, by the Acting Assistant Secretary for Health, of progress toward achieving the 10 stress and violent behavior objectives selected for Federal implementation by the year 1990. The most recent available data have been used to update information on these 10 priority objectives.