Imaginal Processes, Coping Behaviour and Mental Health of Adult Students of Lahore City

Abstract

Researchers have long been interested in the coping styles of individuals who display symptoms of various psychopathologies. Recently, Psychopathology and Coping Behaviours have been associated with Imaginal Processes. The present research examines the relationship of symptoms of Psychopathology in a nonclinical college population with their Imaginal Processes, and Coping Behaviour. Apilot study was conducted on 30 students. The suggestions gathered from the pilot study were incorporated into the main study. In the main study, 1000 students, 451 males and 549 females studying in F.A/F.Sc, (376), B.A/B.Sc,(268) and M.A/ M.Sc (356) within the age range of 16 to 23 years were taken. They completed three questionnaires measuring Coping Behavior, Imaginal Processes, and Psychopathology. The results indicated that the students scoring higher on Positive Constructive Daydreaming, Problem Focused Coping,andEmotionFocusedCopingreportedlesssymptomsofPsychopathology. The findings of the study may be helpful to the college and school counselors to screen non-clinical student population for their use of habitual coping styles and imaginal processes as indicators of potential health problems. Further research in the area is required to establish the findings of the present study.