Coping and culture: a research note on Diaz-Guerrero's theory

Diaz-Guerrero hypothesized in 1967 that Anglo-Americans differed from Mexicans along a dimension of active versus passive coping styles. Specifically, he thought Anglo-Americans preferred to engage in other-modifications (active coping) whereas Mexicans preferred to engage in self-modifications (passive coping) in response to stressful events. In a test of Diaz-Guerrero's proposal the Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced was given to 108 Anglo- and Hispanic-American female inmates; no differences between the groups were found on measures of active and passive coping. The Hispanic group did not differ on active or passive coping as a function of measured acculturation; however, for both groups, education and active coping mildly correlated, suggesting that socioeconomic status may be more related to active coping than culture.