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A daily process approach to coping. Linking theory, research, and practice
H Tennen1, G Affleck, S Armeli
1Department of Community Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington 06030, USA. tennen@nso1.uchc.edu
The American Psychologist
|July 13, 2000
Summary
Daily process research offers unique insights into complex psychological questions by intensively tracking individuals over time. This within-person approach enhances understanding of stress, depression, and coping mechanisms, linking theory to practice.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Clinical Research
Background:
- Traditional between-person research designs are insufficient for inherently within-person questions in coping research.
- Clinical practice and theory highlight the need to understand individual psychological processes over time.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe recent developments in within-person, process-oriented research methods.
- To demonstrate the utility of daily process designs in understanding complex psychological phenomena.
Main Methods:
- Intensive longitudinal data collection examining individuals over time.
- Tracking rapidly fluctuating processes (e.g., mood, coping) in near real-time.
- Application in studies of stress and alcohol, depression, and chronic pain coping.
Main Results:
- Daily process designs provide unique insights into conceptually and clinically challenging questions.
- These methods allow for examination of the mechanisms of therapeutic interventions.
- The approach links psychological theory, research, and practice effectively.
Conclusions:
- Within-person, daily process research offers a powerful approach to understanding dynamic psychological phenomena.
- This methodology addresses limitations of traditional between-person designs.
- Daily process research facilitates the integration of psychological theory, empirical research, and clinical practice.