Future-oriented coping: Dispositional influence and relevance for adolescent subjective wellbeing, depression, and anxiety

Abstract

Extensive literature has explored the predictive role of personality in the use of coping strategies. However, proactive and preventive coping that aim to take action before stressful events occur currently remain largely unexplored. This study examined the associations between proactive and preventive coping and personality (domains and facets) and subjective wellbeing, depression, and anxiety. The results obtained in 934 Spanish adolescents showed that all personality domains were predictors of both types of coping, except for Extraversion, which did not predict preventive coping. Attention to the facets allowed increases in the predicted percentage of variance and a greater understanding of the dispositional bases of future-oriented coping. While proactive and preventive coping were associated in the expected direction with subjective wellbeing and depression, only proactive coping was related to anxiety. These results support both the dispositional conceptualization and the adaptive role of future-oriented coping, particularly proactive coping. Consequently, the development of interventions aimed at teaching proactive coping strategies could be a promising way to facilitate optimal development in adolescents.