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Adolescent girl's coping with an STD. Not enough problem solving and too much self-blame
J G Baker1, P A Succop, C W Boehner
1Division of Child Psychiatry, University of Louisville Medical School, Louisville, KY, USA.
Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology
|August 2, 2001
Summary
Teenage girls experiencing STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) cope differently than with other stressors, using less problem-solving and more self-blame. Healthcare providers should encourage adaptive coping strategies for better adjustment.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent Health
- Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Millions of teenagers contract STDs annually, necessitating research into their coping mechanisms.
- Adolescent girls' responses to STDs can impact future risks and psychological well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if coping strategies for STD acquisition differ from those used for other stressors in adolescent girls.
- To compare coping mechanisms in response to STDs versus interpersonal stressors.
Main Methods:
- Study conducted in an urban, hospital-based adolescent medicine clinic.
- Sixty-seven adolescent girls (mean age 15.9) completed the KIDCOPE questionnaire.
- Participants reported coping strategies for both STD acquisition and interpersonal stressors within a 6-month period.
Main Results:
- Adolescent girls utilized problem-solving less frequently when coping with STD acquisition compared to interpersonal stressors.
- Self-blame was employed more often in response to STD acquisition.
- The frequency of self-blame did not correlate with its perceived helpfulness.
Conclusions:
- Clinical interventions should focus on promoting problem-solving skills for adolescent girls managing STD acquisition.
- Shifting focus from self-blame to constructive coping is crucial for psychological adjustment in adolescent girls post-STD diagnosis.
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