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Coping and its association with psychological adjustment: Differences between first-, second-, and third-plus
Kristel Tardif-Grenier1, Elizabeth Olivier2, Amy K Marks3
1Department of Psychoeducation and Psychology, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Gatineau, Québec, Canada.
Journal of Adolescence
|April 7, 2022
Summary
Adolescent immigrant generations use diverse coping strategies, with some avoidant tactics linked to better adjustment in specific groups. Understanding these differences is key to supporting resilience in immigrant youth.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Developmental Science
Background:
- Adolescents with immigrant backgrounds may face unique challenges impacting psychological adjustment.
- Resilience and positive development are observed in many immigrant youth despite adversity.
- Coping strategies are crucial for understanding psychological adjustment in diverse adolescent populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate coping strategy differences among first-, second-, and third-plus generation adolescents.
- To examine the associations between coping strategies and psychological adjustment (self-esteem, anxiety, depression) across generations.
- To identify factors contributing to resilience in adolescents with immigrant backgrounds.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative cross-sectional study of 1036 Canadian secondary school students.
- Assessed coping strategies using the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced inventory.
- Analyzed associations with self-esteem, anxiety, and depressive symptoms via path analysis and invariance testing.
Main Results:
- First-generation adolescents reported higher acceptance/reinterpretation, substance use, and religion use compared to other generations.
- Coping strategy use varied by generation: self-distraction (first > second > third-plus), humor (second > third-plus).
- Some coping strategy associations with psychological adjustment differed across generations, with avoidant strategies showing varied links to anxiety.
Conclusions:
- Significant generational differences exist in adolescent coping strategies.
- Specific coping mechanisms, including avoidant ones, may be associated with psychological adjustment differently across immigrant generations.
- Findings offer insights into resilience factors and inform practical support for immigrant adolescents.
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