Coping strategies used by adolescents in dealing with family relocation overseas

This study investigated: (a) the types of coping strategies adolescents commonly employ in response to family relocation overseas; and (b) whether sex, age, self-concept, behavioral adjustment, and previous history of moves affect the types of strategies used by these sojourners. For this purpose, we selected a widely used model of coping which distinguishes between approach and avoidance strategies and a sample of teenagers whose families had recently relocated in Belgium. Four assessment instruments were utilized: the Background Information Data Sheet, the Stress Response Scale, the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale, and the Coping Responses Inventory--Youth Form. Results indicated that adolescent sojourners selected both approach and avoidance strategies to cope with family relocation overseas. Correlational analyses further showed that females and older teenagers tended to rely significantly more on approach strategies than on avoidance strategies. Self-concept and behavioral adjustment were also found to be related to the type coping strategies employed, while the history of previous relocation was not.