Daily stressors and coping responses: a comparison of rural and suburban children

Although research has examined problems of stress and health among rural families, little is known about coping phenomena directly from the perspective of rural children. This study compared two groups of children, one rural and the other suburban, in their reports of daily stressors and coping efforts as actually experienced. Using semistructured diaries over a period of six weeks, 21 rural children and 23 suburban children reported daily sources of stress, coping efforts, and coping resources. Rural children were more compliant in completing diaries. They reported more internal, cognitive-intrapsychic source of stress, whereas suburban children listed more external environmental sources. Suburban boys reported submission as the most common coping response, and rural boys listed organized activities and problem-solving approaches. Other interesting differences between the rural and suburban children, and gender differences among both groups emerged.