Adolescent coping: differences in the styles and strategies used by learning disabled compared to non learning disabled adolescents

Abstract

This study compared the coping strategies and styles of 30 learning disabled adolescents with 30 non learning disabled adolescents matched in age, gender and ethnicity from a large urban high school in Queensland. Results showed that the learning disabled adolescents use some different coping styles and strategies to their non learning disabled peers. The learning disabled group showed less tendency to relax, or work to achieve goals. They tended not to focus on the positive and not to attempt to solve problems. Rather they exhibited a higher tendency to use wishful thinking and believed that they could not cope. Cognitive and social skills deficits are proposed as the likely contributors to the differences. The implications of these findings are discussed.