Individual differences in the use of proactive coping strategies by middle-aged and older adults

Abstract

The concept of proactive coping refers to the process of screening one’s environment for future stressors and undertaking attempts to prevent them. As of yet, few empirical studies have been conducted in relation to this promising concept. The aim of the present study was to identify the personal characteristics that contribute to the engagement in proactive coping with potential changes in three important life domains, namely health, social relationships and personal finance. We collected data in a sample of adults aged 50–70 ( N = 123) regarding proactive coping and five trait variables, namely future temporal orientation, goal orientation, dispositional optimism, self-efficacy, and aging anxiety. Results showed that future temporal orientation and, to a lesser extent, goal orientation were significantly associated with proactive coping. In addition, a higher educational level was also important for explaining individual differences in proactive coping, but not regarding all types of potential changes. It seems that the impact of trait factors on proactive coping partially depends on the type of future stressor that is encountered and the skills that are necessary to deal with it effectively.