Coping Research Articles

The role of administrative discretion in the coping behaviour of street-level bureaucrats in higher education institutions of Pakistan

Policies are created at the highest level, and street-level bureaucrats (SLBs) implement them at lower levels. SLBs work directly with citizens and exercise significant discretion in their service. According to Lipsky's theory, SLBs face various problems and use multiple coping techniques to deal with them. This study focused on the discretionary powers of the heads of departments (HODs) and the use of coping mechanisms when faced with challenges in enacting the semester system policy. The existing study used the theoretical model of coping mechanisms using a single-case research methodology to investigate the HODs of a prestigious public university's coping behaviour in implementing the semester system. Semi-structured interviews were employed to get the perspectives of HODs in this qualitative research. This study used the classification model of coping families developed by Tummers, Bekkers, Vink, and Michael (2015) and concludes that management has given HODs some task-discretionary authority for carrying out the semester system policy based on thematic analysis. The findings reveal that HODs move against the students rather than towards or away from them in coping behaviour. HODs strictly follow the semester system's policy by adhering to rigid rule-following.

Change in prosocial development following adversity exposure among U.S. Mexican youth

IntroductionAltruistic prosocial behaviors (i.e., actions primarily intended to benefit others with little to no regard for self-benefit) are of special interest to researchers interested in growth in character strengths following exposure to adversity and trauma (referred to as the altruism-born-of-suffering hypothesis). The present study was designed to examine this hypothesis. Changes in prosocial behaviors following trauma exposure and whether problem-focused coping and familism facilitated prosocial behaviors were investigated in U.S. Mexican youth.MethodsA total of 749 Mexican-origin students (initial M age = 10.42 years, SD = 0.55; 48.9% girls) from the U.S. Southwest completed surveys from 5th grade to early adulthood.ResultsU.S. Mexican girls who reported earlier trauma exhibited increases in altruistic behaviors into young adulthood but only when they reported relatively high levels of familism values in middle adolescence. A similar trend pattern was found for U.S. Mexican boys but only when they expressed relatively high levels of problem-focused coping in middle adolescence. There was other evidence of significant relations between both familism and problem focused coping and prosocial behaviors in these youth.DiscussionFindings demonstrate the potential for prosocial development across adolescence to young adulthood among trauma-exposed youth from a U.S. ethnic/racial minority background.

Adaptation and validation of the Coping Behavior Inventory into European Portuguese

Adaptation and validation of the Coping Behavior Inventory into European Portuguese

"God is going to help me get through this": spirituality perspectives from Hispanic adolescent and young adult cancer survivors.

Describe spirituality's role in a sample of Hispanic adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors. This phenomenology-informed convergent parallel mixed-methods study aimed to explore participants' lived experiences with hope during cancer treatments and cancer survivorship. A purposive sample of Hispanic AYAs who completed cancer treatments 2-5years ago were virtually recruited for participation. Participants completed virtual semi-structured interviews about their experiences with hope during cancer treatments and cancer survivorship and prepared narratives about their experiences. Thematic analyses were iteratively performed across the data set to identify final themes. Ten Hispanic AYA cancer survivors (mean age 30.2, SD = 4.5) years participated in this pilot study. Seven participants (70%) were female, and three participants (30%) were male. Six participants (60%) experienced non-hematologic malignancies, and four participants (40%) experienced hematologic malignancies. Eight (80%) participants' language preference was Spanish, while two (20%) participants' language preference was English. The theme spirituality and subthemes living by faith, god as a resource, and spiritual gratitude were identified as concepts participants linked to their conceptualization of hope during cancer treatment and survivorship. Hope and spirituality may be conceptually linked to coping behaviors among Hispanic AYA cancer survivors. Hope through faith may be a learned spiritual value in Hispanic AYAs and might play a role in their spiritual and cognitive development. Further research is needed to explore the potentially protective value of hope and spirituality for the Hispanic AYA population.

Validation of a New Patient-Reported Outcome Measure of the Functional Impact of Essential Tremor on Activities of Daily Living.

The Essential Tremor Rating Assessment Scale (TETRAS) is a popular scale for essential tremor (ET), but its activities of daily living (ADL) and performance (P) subscales are based on a structured interview and physical exam. No patient-reported outcome (PRO) scale for ET has been developed according to US regulatory guidelines. Develop and validate a TETRAS PRO subscale. Fourteen items, rated 0-4, were derived from TETRAS ADL and structured cognitive interviews of 18 ET patients. Convergent validity analyses of TETRAS PRO versus TETRAS ADL, TETRAS-P, and the Quality of Life in Essential Tremor Questionnaire (QUEST) were computed for 67 adults with ET or ET plus. Test-retest reliability was computed at intervals of 1 and 30 days. The influence of mood (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS) and coping behaviors (Essen Coping Questionnaire, ECQ) was examined with multiple linear regression. TETRAS PRO was strongly correlated (r > 0.7) with TETRAS ADL, TETRAS-P, and QUEST and exhibited good to excellent reliability (Cronbach alpha 95%CI = 0.853-0.926; 30-day test-retest intraclass correlation 95%CI = 0.814-0.921). The 30-day estimate of minimum detectable change (MDC) was 6.6 (95%CI 5.2-8.0). TETRAS-P (rsemipartial = 0.607), HADS depression (rsemipartial = 0.384), and the coping strategy of information seeking and exchange of experiences (rsemipartial = 0.176) contributed statistically to TETRAS PRO in a multiple linear regression (R2 = 0.67). TETRAS PRO is a valid and reliable scale that is influenced strongly by tremor severity, moderately by mood (depression), and minimally by coping skills. The MDC for TETRAS PRO is probably sufficient to detect clinically important change.

The big five factors as differential predictors of self-regulation, achievement emotions, coping and health behavior in undergraduate students

BackgroundThe aim of this research was to analyze whether the personality factors included in the Big Five model differentially predict the self-regulation and affective states of university students and health.MethodsA total of 637 students completed validated self-report questionnaires. Using an ex post facto design, we conducted linear regression and structural prediction analyses.ResultsThe findings showed that model factors were differential predictors of both self-regulation and affective states. Self-regulation and affective states, in turn, jointly predict emotional performance while learning and even student health. These results allow us to understand, through a holistic predictive model, the differential predictive relationships of all the factors: conscientiousness and extraversion were predictors regulating positive emotionality and health; the openness to experience factor was non-regulating; nonregulating; and agreeableness and neuroticism were dysregulating, hence precursors of negative emotionality and poorer student health.ConclusionsThese results are important because they allow us to infer implications for guidance and psychological health at university.

FORMATION OF FUTURE MANAGERS' PROFESSIONAL STRESS RESISTANCE AS A CONDITION FOR THEIR COMPETITIVENESS

The article is devoted to the issue of formation of professional stress resistance of managers in terms of their competitiveness. The state of research in scientific sources on the issue of managers’ professional stress resistance is analyzed and the necessity of targeted influence to level up the future managers’ professional stress resistance at the stage of master’s training in a higher educational institution is substantiated. The study's purpose: to clarify the essence of professional stress resistance, to develop a comprehensive program for its formation in future managers, and determine the content, directions, and ways of its implementation at the stage of master's training. The results of a diagnostic study using the developed questionnaire and the SACS-strategy and coping behavior model (S. Hobfoll) are presented. A comprehensive program for the formation of future managers’ professional stress resistance is created. Ways of its implementation at the stage of master’s training in a higher educational institution are outlined. This program provides for the search and activation of stress resistance resources, the formation of constructive coping strategies in management activities, the development of assertiveness, and the harmonization of the personality of future managers. The ways of implementing a comprehensive program for the formation of professional stress resistance of future managers are identified: educational activities (lectures, practical classes, independent work), individual consultative and methodological work, participation in training groups, independent and research work, participation in volunteer activities/volunteer educational projects, non-formal education of master's students. The role of anti-stress training in increasing professional stress resistance is revealed.

FEATURES OF COPING STRATEGIES IN CONDITIONS OF UNCERTAINTY OF WARTIME

Relevance. The purpose of this article is to empirically investigate the discrepancies in the selection of coping strategies among groups of people during war under various conditions of uncertainty. Methodology. The sample consists of 186 residents of Ukrainian cities who live under various conditions of uncertainty. Methods: author’s questionnaire, methods: «Test for psychological diagnostics of coping mechanisms (E. Heim)», «The Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS-12) (N. Carleton, adaptation by H. Gromova)»; mathematical methods for processing empirical data using the IBM SPSS Statistics 26 package. Results. Respondent groups, based on their location relative to the front line, show statistically significant discrepancies in cognitive and behavioral coping strategies. The empirical study’s analysis showed that individuals living in the front and near-front zones often compare their problems with others and downplay their difficulties more frequently (41,94%) than those living further from the front line (21.94%). Furthermore, individuals closer to the front line show a higher tendency to employ the adaptive coping strategy «altruism» (19.35%), that is, they offer help to others in overcoming difficulties more often than those living further from the front line (6.45%). Both groups predominantly employ relatively adaptive coping strategies. However, a divergence in problem-solving approaches exists: individuals in the front and near-front zones typically avoid problem-solving by engaging in a favorite activity, whereas the other group tends to evade problem-solving by resorting to alcohol, medicines, sedatives, or indulging in tasty food. The study did not identify statistically significant differences between groups regarding intolerance to uncertainty.

How It Ends: Exploring How Narrative Closure and Character Outcomes in Series Finales Relate to Viewer Responses and Coping Behaviors

ABSTRACT Series finales garner much attention and discussion from viewers and the press, yet few studies have examined what makes finales satisfying. According to affective disposition theory (ADT) the outcomes that characters experience will predict audience gratifications; however, little is known about what other factors may affect responses to finales. An online questionnaire (N = 840) was administered to explore the associations between character outcomes and perceived narrative closure with affective responses (positive and meaningful), emotional distress (depression, anger, and anxiety), enjoyment, and appreciation, and to determine how these factors relate to post-viewing coping behaviors. Findings revealed that both the positivity of an outcome for a main character and perceived narrative closure were associated with heightened positive and meaningful affect, reduced emotional distress, and increased enjoyment and appreciation. Furthermore, appreciation and enjoyment were differentially related to coping behaviors, such that enjoyment was linked to decreased coping, whereas appreciation was associated with heightened engagement in these behaviors. Theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.

Religious coping and delinquent behaviors: Moderated mediation roles of religion affiliation and prosocial moral reasoning.

Religion has been shown to have a positive impact for developing adolescents; however, the processes underlying this relation are not well known. In his almighty prosocial theory, Anazonwu (Conceptualizing and testing almighty prosociality theory for a more peaceful world, SCOA Heritage Nigeria, 2017) proposed that the activation of learnt prosocial moral reasoning through religion enabled performance of prosocial peace behavior that will benefit society. Thus, religion coping enhances the development of prosocial reasoning which in turn propagate prosocial acts while reducing delinquent behaviors. Similarly, developmental system theory (Lerner, Developmental science, developmental systems, and contemporary theories of human development, John Wiley & Sons, 2006) assumed that in every individual three mechanisms: plasticity (potential to change), context (environment), and developmental regulation (learnable principles) interact to describe the direction of the transactions between individuals and their various embedded sociocultural context of development which will also determine other developmental outcomes. Based on these two theoretical assumptions, the present study examined whether prosocial moral reasoning (developmental regulation) was the mechanism in the negative correlation between religious coping (plasticity) and delinquent behaviors (outcome), and if religious affiliation(context) (Christianity and Islam) moderated these paths. We hypothesized that the link from prosocial moral reasoning to lower delinquent behaviors would be stronger for Muslim compared with Christian youth. These questions were tested among Nigerian adolescence, an important sample because of high interreligious and interethnic tension among youth in the country. 298 adolescents (Mean age = 15.03 years, SD = 1.76; male = 176, female = 122; 46.3% Muslim, 53.7% Christian) were sampled using questionnaires in senior secondary schools in Nigeria. Moderated mediation result shows that greater religious coping was linked with higher prosocial moral reasoning, which in turn predicted fewer delinquent behaviors. Religious coping interacted with religion affiliation to influence delinquent behavior; there was a stronger link between these two constructs for Muslim compared to Christian youth. Thus, interventions aiming to reduce youth delinquent behaviors should consider promoting prosocial moral reasoning, particularly among the various religions (i.e., Christian/Muslim) communities.

Examining the Impact of Coping Strategies on the Quality of Life in Children with Various Disabilities

Children with disabilities face unique challenges that affect their well-being and quality of life (QOL). This study explores the intersectionality of disability and coping strategies in Saudi Arabia, a context in which comprehensive research on this topic is scarce. Cultural barriers hinder research participation, and data on the prevalence of disabilities are limited. A cross-sectional design was used to capture the dynamic relationship between coping strategies and QOL. A stratified random sample of 369 children (aged 6-18 years) from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds was studied. QOL was measured using the short form-12 health survey to assess the physical and mental components. Coping strategies were assessed using the validated COPE inventory. A stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the association between QOL and coping strategies. The significance level was set at a P value of <0.05 throughout the analysis. The findings of this study revealed that participants with auditory problem have shown better QOL as compared to children with other disabilities. Participants with visual problems reported a greater use of emotional support, information support, positive reframing, acceptance, and religious coping. Children with autism were found to use only coping strategies. Participants with intellectual disabilities used behavioral and humorous coping strategies. Participants with auditory problems believed in active coping, denial, and substance abuse. Physical functioning, physical role, bodily pain, emotional role, and physical component summary were found to be significantly and negatively correlated with coping strategies, whereas general health, vitality, social functioning, and mental health were positively and significantly related to coping strategies. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that emotional support, denial, behavioral disengagement, self-blame, religion, acceptance, humor, and substance abuse were significant predictors of QOL. Overall, the findings of this study emphasize the complexity of addressing the needs of disabled children and the importance of holistic and culturally sensitive approaches in rehabilitation and support programs.

Stress perception, coping behaviors and work-privacy conflict of student midwives in times of COVID-19 pandemic: the “Healthy MidStudents” study in Germany

BackgroundStudent midwives deliver care for women under challenging job demands, which may affect their mental health– thus creating a high need for health promotion. Given the lack of research addressing this topic, the aim of this study is to examine the links between stress perception, coping behaviors, work-privacy conflict, and perception of COVID-19 pandemic impact on studies of student midwives in northern Germany.MethodsData were collected using a cross-sectional online-survey at nine midwifery study sites in northern Germany from October 2022 to January 2023. 342 student midwives (response rate: 61.3%) were surveyed on stress perception, coping behaviors, work-privacy conflict, and perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their studies. Descriptive, linear regression and moderation analyses were run to test explorative assumptions.ResultsResults revealed that higher levels of perceived stress were reported by 13.4% of student midwives. Social support (M = 13.76, SD = 2.19) and active stress coping (M = 10.72, SD = 2.01) were identified as most prevalent coping behaviors in the present sample. It was found that work-privacy conflict was positively associated with stress perception (ß = 0.53, p =.001) and maladaptive coping behaviors (alcohol and cigarette consumption: ß = 0.14, p =.015), and negatively associated with adaptive coping behaviors (positive thinking: ß = − 0.25, p =.001, social support: ß = − 0.23, p =.001). Students with children reported significantly lower levels of social support than students without children. 55.6% of student midwives perceived a negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their studies (mostly on lectures, seminars, and contact with fellow students).ConclusionsKey findings highlighted moderate stress levels among student midwives during theoretical study stage. Based on current research, prevalence of high stress levels among student midwives remains unclear. Given the overall heterogeneous, limited research on student midwives’ stress perception, coping behaviors, work-privacy conflict and perceptions of COVID-19 pandemic impact on studies, implications for research are suggested, e.g. longitudinal studies at different time points and settings and interventional studies. Findings provide a starting point for implementation of workplace health promotion in theoretical and practical stages of midwifery science study programs, e.g. training courses on stress prevention and adaptive coping, and for improvement of working conditions.

Safety-Seeking Behaviors and Anxiety Maintenance in People With Aphasia: A Viewpoint.

People with aphasia (PWA) often experience higher levels of anxiety and social isolation than people without aphasia. Although the presence of anxiety is appreciated in PWA, literature examining the etiology and persistent nature of anxiety in PWA is underdeveloped. Safety-seeking behaviors, or maladaptive acts used by individuals to decrease anxiety from a feared outcome, have been reported as key facilitators of long-term anxiety toward feared situations across a variety of clinical populations. The purpose of this viewpoint is to explore the concept of safety-seeking behaviors and discuss their potential relevance to the maintenance of anxiety in PWA. We further discuss the distinction between maladaptive (i.e., safety seeking) and adaptive (i.e., coping) behaviors and how this knowledge may improve the quality of clinical services for PWA. The present review advocates for further exploration of the safety-seeking behaviors that are used by PWA. Until critical attention is given to this subject, clinicians may remain ill-equipped to identify and depict whether a self-management strategy is facilitative or inhibitive to PWA's communicative participation goals. Critically, a behavior that may be "maladaptive" for one individual may be "adaptive" for another. Future research should seek to identify common behavioral and cognitive strategies that PWA implement to reduce acute perceptions of anxiety. This knowledge may help facilitate holistic aphasia rehabilitation by allowing clinicians to foster conversations around behaviors that inhibit or promote successful communicative participation.

Личностные факторы профессионального выгорания у школьных учителей

<p style="text-align: justify;">The relevance. There is a lack of information in the scientific literature about predictors of professional burnout among schoolteachers. This complicates psychological work to prevent and overcome professional burnout syndrome, which is a consequence of significant physical and psychological overload among modern teachers. The aim. To identify the most significant personal factors of professional burnout among schoolteachers. Study design. The article analyzes the relationship between the professional burnout of schoolteachers and such personal factors as the professional motivation of teachers, their meaningful life orientations, strategies for coping behavior, satisfaction with various aspects of pedagogical activity. Materials and methods. The study involved 409 teachers of secondary schools in Moscow and the Moscow region aged 23 to 65 years. The following questionnaires were used: «Professional Burnout» questionnaire, «Life Orientations Test», «Job Satisfaction Components Questionnaire», «Coping Methods Questionnaire», «Professional Motivation Questionnaire». Data analysis was carried out using correlation and multiple regression analysis. Results. It is shown that the socio-psychological qualities of the individual, necessary for building the pedagogical interaction of the teacher with other participants in educational relations, primarily with the parents of students, are of high importance for reducing the risk of professional burnout. The most significant personal factors that are predictors of professional burnout among schoolteachers with different indicators of burnout have been identified (dissatisfaction with interaction with students’ parents, the predominance of controlled motivation for work, preference for unconstructive strategies for coping with problematic situations, a feeling of unfulfillment and inability to fully manage one’s life). Conclusions. Psychological, advisory and psychotherapeutic assistance to schoolteachers can be expanded by correcting work motivation, using positive reappraisal and non-confrontation to cope with difficult situations, and teaching effective means of communication with other participants in educational relations.</p>

Psychological problems of coping behavior of parents of often ill children

Psychological problems of coping behavior of parents of often ill children

The Protective Role of Curiosity Behaviors in Coping with Existential Vacuum.

An existential vacuum is experienced as a kind of crisis that one can cope with using his/her strengths. The related literature suggests that the important determinants of coping with existential emptiness include positive emotional and personality resources, and among these-Curiosity Behaviors. The purpose of this study is to describe the role of curiosity as an important factor in relation to emotional resources in individuals experiencing an existential vacuum. A survey was conducted using online tools (n = 484). The hypotheses about the direct and indirect relationships between Curiosity Behaviors and existential vacuum were tested using multiple regression analyses and mediations. The study involved a sample of adult participants representing the general population. The participants completed five questionnaires, the first one focusing on Curiosity Behaviors, such as seeking out novel and challenging experiences and engagement in activities that capture one's attention (The Curiosity and Exploration Inventory), and the other tools being the Multidimensional Existential Meaning Scale, the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire, the Flourishing Scale, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. The results indicate that Curiosity Behaviors characteristically negatively predict existential vacuum. In addition, other variables, such as Flourishing, seem to be useful in explaining the relationships between these factors. Flourishing along with Curiosity increases a sense of Meaning in Life. Our results present evidence showing the importance of Curiosity Behaviors in coping with the existential vacuum.

Emotional burnout syndrome among health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented an unprecedented challenge to society. Supporting the mental health of medical personnel was a critical public health concern. Throughout the pandemic, many tragic deaths from suicide were reported. Consequently, attention to the well-being of healthcare professionals worldwide has become imperative for proper support and monitoring. The specificity of professional activity, which involves risk and situations of uncertainty, contributes to the formation of special forms of protective coping behavior in health care professionals. Nurses approach the problem situation rationally, strive to maintain control over their actions and the situation, and keep their attention on the goals of the activity. They consider the problem as a situation for personal growth, analyze the problem situation and make conscious attempts to get out of it.

Citizens’ Communication Styles in Written Public Encounters

Abstract Current studies of citizens’ coping behaviors in public encounters lack a direct examination of what citizens say and how they say it. Moreover, despite the ubiquity of citizens’ written communications with the state, such interactions are seldom studied. This article contributes a relational approach to studies of citizens’ coping behaviors by developing a taxonomy and detailed operationalization of citizens’ communication styles in written public encounters. This taxonomy is based on an abductive content analysis of over 1,000 citizen web contacts to an Israeli welfare agency, mostly during coronavirus disease 2019. We show that citizens’ written communications differ in their inclination to espouse demanding, pleading, civil, or neutral styles. Additionally, we tentatively show that citizens’ subjective experiences of administrative burdens and trust in government are correlated with the variation in their communication styles. The taxonomy, its operationalization, and preliminary findings open up new avenues for studying citizens’ coping behaviors in written encounters.

Influence of emotions on coping behaviors in crisis: a computational analysis of the COVID-19 outbreak

Widespread public crises often give rise to the proliferation of sensationalized rumors and conspiracy theories, which can evoke a variety of public emotions. Despite the growing importance of research on the relationship between emotions and coping behaviors in crisis, a dearth of natural observation-based investigation has been limiting theory development. To address this gap, this study conducted computational research to study the U.S. public’s discrete emotions and coping behaviors during the COVID-19 outbreak crisis, analyzing Twitter data, Google Trends data, and Google Community Mobility data. The results revealed that anger and fear were relatively more prominent emotions experienced by the public than other discrete emotions. Regarding the impacts of emotions on coping behaviors, it was found that the prevalence of low-certainty and retreat emotions was related to increased information-seeking and information-transmitting behaviors. Also, the prevalence of both high-certainty and low-certainty emotions during the COVID-19 outbreak was positively related to the public’s compliance with public health recommendations.

Prevalence of stress and types of coping strategies among adolescents (14–18 years) in collectivist communities

Background: Stress is highly prevalent among adolescents and might lead to maladaptive coping. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence of stress and determined the types of coping strategies used by adolescents; and identified the predictors of stress levels among this cohort. The study recruited 1344 participants, aged 14 to 18 years, in schools. The study used the DASS-42 and the Brief COPE Inventory Scale for data collection. The findings of this study showed that more than two-thirds of adolescents suffer from stress, and moderate, severe, and extremely severe were 22.8%, 43.0%, and 16.8%, respectively. The most used coping behaviors among these adolescents were religious factors, with a Mean ± SD of (Mean 6.28 ± 1.16), followed by instrumental support (Mean 6.17 ± 1.18). The stress level has a significant negative correlation at (p < 0.001) with active coping (r = −0.183**), self-distraction (r = −0.190**), acceptance (r = −0.140**) and religion (r = −0.097**; P < 0.001). Binary logistic regression analyses revealed that the whole model had R2 (0.232); p < 0.005 and shows that those aged 15 had an odd of 0.272 to develop stress more than those at 18. Fathers' and mothers' education levels strongly influenced adolescents' stress levels. Those with an income between <500 and 500–750 Jordanian Dinars had an odds ratio of 5.241 and 3.514 of developing stress, respectively, compared to their counterparts. Application to practice: This study highlights the significance of developing health intervention programs and counseling services for managing adolescents' psychological well-being and provides valuable insights for policymakers on addressing mental health issues.