Coping with School-Related Stress and Family Stress in Healthy and Clinically Referred Adolescents

Abstract

This study compares stress perception and coping style in 77 early and late adolescents differing in psychological health. Coping with two normative, age-specific stressors, namely, school-related stressors, and conflicts with parents was investigated via the Coping Process Interview, which assesses coping immediately after an event has happened. Results obtained from the interviews were validated by the results of standardized questionnaires assessing stress perception and coping style in dealing with school-related stress and family stress. Both stressors were not perceived as structurally similar events. Differences were obtained with respect to the appraisal of the stressor, causal attribution, the amount of thoughts, feelings, and actions in order to cope with these stressors, but not in achieved effects and reappraisal. In addition, differences between clinically referred and nonconspicuous adolescents emerged with respect to stress perception and coping style. Clinically referred adolescents, independent from diagnosis, experienced higher levels of school-related stress and family stress and also exhibited a more dysfunctional coping style when dealing with both types of stressors.