Avoidant Coping Strategies in Adolescents in Situations of Social Conflict: An Attempt to Identify Personality Indicators

Abstract

The study aimed to determine the personality indicators of the avoidant coping strategy in adolescent youth in situations of social conflict. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (adapted by I. Dzwonkowska, K. Lachowicz-Tabaczek, and M. Łaguna), the Stress Assessment Questionnaire (Kwestionariusz Oceny Stresu, KOS) designed by D. Włodarczyk and K. Wrześniewski, and Questionnaire for Coping Strategies in Adolescents in Situations of Social Conflict (Kwestionariusz do badania strategii radzenia sobie młodzieży w sytuacji konfliktu społecznego) created by Borecka-Biernat (2012). The empirical research was conducted in middle schools on 893 adolescents (468 girls and 425 boys) aged 13 to 15. An analysis of the research results indicates that a young person’s low assessment of own abilities and the assessment of a situation of conflict as a threat or harm/loss co-occur with the avoidant coping strategy in situations of social conflict.