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Contextual effects on adolescent disorders relevant to coping
1Psychological Growth Associates, Inc., Lawrence, Kansas 66049, USA.
Psychological Reports
|April 1, 1996
Summary
Adolescents with an externalizing control style demonstrated enhanced coping strategies when facing challenging situations. This finding highlights the role of perceived control in adolescent mental health and resilience.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Adolescent Development
- Coping Mechanisms
Background:
- Understanding the factors influencing adolescents' sense of control is crucial for mental health.
- Contextual determinants significantly shape how adolescents perceive and manage stressful situations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between adolescents' sense of control and their coping responses.
- To examine contextual determinants as moderators of this relationship.
Main Methods:
- A four-factor control model was employed.
- Outpatients, matched for age and gender, completed the Tiffany Control Scales.
- Data were analyzed to compare coping responses based on control styles.
Main Results:
- Adolescents scoring as externalizing (n=52) exhibited greater coping compared to internalizing (n=40) adolescents.
- Specific contextual determinants were identified as influential in modulating coping behaviors.
- The study confirmed hypotheses regarding the link between control style and coping efficacy.
Conclusions:
- Adolescents' sense of control, particularly externalizing tendencies, is associated with differential coping effectiveness.
- Contextual factors play a significant role in shaping adaptive responses in adolescents.
- Findings inform interventions aimed at bolstering adolescent resilience and mental well-being.