Adolescent Coping Strategies Research Articles

The Peculiarities of Psychological Adaptation of Teenagers to Difficult Life Situations

Introduction. The article deals with the problem of psychological adaptation of adolescents to difficult life situations. The existing theoretical approaches to understanding the phenomenon of psychological adaptation are analyzed, the concepts of “difficult life situation”, “critical situation” are considered. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the psychological specifics of the coping behavior of adolescents. The group of subjects who are in a difficult life situation was formed from pupils of the State Committee for Education and Science of the Republic of Moldova “Republican social shelter for children and adolescents ‘Nadezhda’ ”. Materials and Methods. In the course of the empirical study the following methods have been used: the projective method “Psychological autobiography” by the authors L. F. Burlachuk and E. Yu. Korzhova, the projective method “Man in the rain” by the authors A. Abrams and A. Emchin. To process the obtained empirical data, methods of mathematical statistics were used: the Mann – Whitney U-criterion and the φ* criterion – Fisher’s angular transformation. Results. According to the results of the empirical study, most adolescents of the 2nd group were characterized by the manifestation of passivity, lack of energy, stiffness, rigidity in difficult life situations, which generally confirms the weak representation of problem-oriented coping strategies in the coping behavior of adolescents. Discussion and Conclusion. The pupils of the orphanage turned out to be characterized by depressive states, possibly determined by the unfavorable social situation in which they found themselves, and in which they are most likely to experience deprivation of support from significant people. On the basis of the study carried out, psychological recommendations have been formulated to improve the effectiveness of adolescents’ psychological coping with difficult life situations, which can be used in the professional activities of psychologists – in professional counseling and psychocorrection, in the work of a teacher-psychologist, school psychologist and other specialists. These recommendations take into account, first of all, the importance of developing problem-oriented coping strategies in adolescents based on an objective and critical analysis of the cause-and-effect relationships of difficult situations.

Avoidant coping strategies in adolescents in situations of social conflict: an attempt to identify personality and family indicators

Goal The purpose of the study was to determine the personality and family indicators of the avoidant coping strategy in adolescent youth in situations of social conflict Method The study was conducted on a sample of 893 middle school students. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES) (adapted by Dzwonkowska, Lachowicz-Tabaczek and Łaguna), the Sense of Control Questionnaire (SCQ) by Krasowicz and Kurzyp-Wojnarska, the Stress Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) designed by Włodarczyk and Wrześniewski, the Three-Factor Inventory of Personality States and Traits (TIPST) by Spielberger, the Parental Attitudes Scale (PAS) Plopa, the Questionnaire for Coping Strategies in Parents in Situations of Social Conflict (QSPC) by Borecka-Biernat, and Questionnaire for Coping Strategies in Adolescents in Situations of Social Conflict (QSAC) by Borecka-Biernat were used in the study. Results Young people’s strong conviction of other individuals’ impact on negative and positive outcomes of events, the perception of social conflict as challenge and reacting to that conflict with anger or anxiety co-occurs with the tendency towards the avoidant coping strategy. Among the familial determinants of the avoidant coping strategy, an important role is played by the inadequate parental attitudes towards the adolescent child, as well as the pattern of avoidance in situations of social conflict in the parents. Conclusions Learning about the causes of the avoidant coping strategy in the young person will allow the parents and teachers to better understand the adolescents’ behaviour in situations of social conflict and look at its roots from the adolescent’s perspective. Understanding the causes of this behaviour may become a starting point for creating educational strategies that help young people cope with conflict in a mature way.

‘If I am playing football, I forget that I have this virus’: the challenges and coping strategies of adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

BackgroundAdolescents who have acquired HIV perinatally (ALHIV) face unique challenges in taking lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART), but little is known about what factors affect their adherence over the course of their lifelong treatment journey.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative study with ALHIV who had periods of poor adherence to ART in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa using Participant-generated Visual Methodologies (PVM). Participants used photography to represent their perspectives and experiences.Results14 individuals participated in the research process. We developed a framework and identified four social domains which combined with the adolescent’s own experiences and sense of self to either support or undermine adherence. Periods of non-adherence were reported by all participants. Participants described the importance of supportive relationships and households as well as the benefits of ART as supporting adherence. The fear of inadvertent disclosure of their HIV status and the side-effects of ART were barriers to adherence. Possible interventions to support adolescents in their treatment journey are identified.ConclusionsCurrent models of adherence support fail to address the challenges to lifelong therapy ALHIV face. Ongoing education and honest communication with health care providers, interventions that build resilience together with peer support, have the potential to improve adherence in ALHIV.

Pathways from self-disclosure to medical coping strategy among adolescents with moderate and major depression during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mediation of self-efficacy.

BackgroundThe prevalence of adolescent depression in China during the COVID-19 pandemic is increasing. Self-disclosing depressive emotions could help release stress. Self-disclosure, which is a prerequisite for self-efficacy, can directly contribute to people’s psychological health, and depression and the choice of coping strategy are determined by the level of self-efficacy perceived.PurposeWe aimed to discuss the relationship between self-efficacy, self-disclosure, and medical coping strategy. Further, we explore the mediation effect of self-efficacy on the influence of self-disclosure on medical coping strategies in adolescents with depression.MethodsA total of 585 patients aged 11–24 years with moderate and major depression were recruited. All the assessments were completed on the second day after admission, including the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE), Distress Disclosure Index (DDI), and Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire (MCMQ). Pearson correlation was performed to explore the relationships of these variables. The bootstrap analysis was used to conduct to assess the mediation effects.ResultsBoth direct and indirect effects of self-disclosure on medical coping strategy were found. As predicted, self-efficacy partially mediated the relationship between self-disclosure and medical coping strategy (b = 0.0385, 95% CI: 0.0244–0.0538 for Confrontation; b = –0.0466, 95%CI: –0.0651 to –0.0296 for Resignation), respectively. The effect size for Confrontation and Resignation was 0.2659 and 0.2485, respectively.ConclusionSelf-efficacy played a partial mediating role in the effect of self-disclosure on medical coping strategies for adolescent depression during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the use of a positive self-disclosure mechanism may be anticipated to promote improved self-efficacy and the use of active coping strategies.

Coping Strategies of Adolescents in Orphanages

Adolescents who are orphaned are more prone to crises as a result of their loved ones’ lack of support. There are 13 orphanages in Cimahi City. The objective of this study was to investigate coping mechanisms among orphaned teenagers living in Cimahi City’s LKSA Insan Kamil Mandiri. The significance of this research stems from the obligation of nurses to assist, educate, and offer health-related information to orphaned adolescents to ensure their wellbeing. Qualitative methods were employed, utilizing a phenomenological approach and the Colaizzi method for data analysis. This model focused on the significance of coping methods for orphaned teenagers in conjunction with community-level phenomena to explain changes in the activity patterns and psychosocial experiences of adolescents living in orphanages. Six themes emerged from the research, namely: 1) adolescents’ reasons for living in orphanages; 2) positive responses to living in orphanages; 3) adolescents’ problems in orphanages; 4) coping strategies of adolescents living in orphanages; 5) support received by teenagers living in orphanages; and 6) youth hopes for the future. According to the study’s findings, orphanages often provide pleasant activities that foster community among the institution’s inhabitants.
 Keywords: adolescents, coping strategy, orphans

Impact of menstruation on physical and mental health of young adolescent girls

This study was undertaken to study the Impact of Menstruation on Physical and Mental Health of young adolescent girls. Two different phases ( Pre-menstrual phase and post menstrual phase) were taken to assess the impact of the premenstrual symptoms screening tool revised for adolescents (PSST-A), Measure of Adolescent Coping Strategies (MACS), Well-Being Index (WBI–CVSV)andAdjustment Inventory for School Students (AISS–SS) . The age of the subjects ranges from 13 to 16 years ( grade 8th to 10th). Results revealed that the subjects of pre phase of menstruation showed deterioration in premenstrual symptoms screening tool revised for adolescents (PSST-A), Measure of adolescent coping strategies, emotional well-being, psychological well-being, spiritual well-being. The subjects of post menstrual phases showed stronger psychological characteristics in measure of adolescent coping strategies and levels of adjustment. It was also confirmed by the study that the magnitude of the problem comes down during the post phase of menstruation. Physical health was proved a significant factor during menstruation from which other associated symptoms and problems may generate. So, physical and mental health are very much associated with menstruation for the females during their adolescence.

Examining the Relationship between Sensation Seeking, Positive and Negative Experiences, Emotional Autonomy and Coping Strategies in Adolescents

The research aims to examine the relationships between sensation seeking and positive and negative experience, emotional autonomy, and coping strategies in adolescents. The study group consisted of 371 adolescents who attended middle and high schools; the ages ranged from 11 to 17. 55.7 % of participants were female (N=137), and 44.3% were male (N=109). Data were collected via Adolescent Coping Scale (KIDCOPE), Emotional Autonomy Scale, Adolescent Positive and Negative Experiences Scale, and Short Sensation Seeking Scale. The relationships between the study variables were analyzed via correlational analysis and regression analysis. The correlation analysis revealed a statistically significant negative correlation among sensation seeking, emotional autonomy, active coping, and positive experience. On the other hand, a statistically significant positive correlation among sensation seeking, avoidant coping, negative coping, and negative experience. The regression analysis results showed that emotional autonomy, avoidant coping, negative coping, and negative experience predict sensation seeking, yet active coping and positive experience variables did not predict.

COVID-19: Psychological symptoms and coping strategies in preschoolers, schoolchildren, and adolescents

The present study aimed to compare psychological symptoms and coping strategies in 1480 preschoolers, schoolchildren, and adolescents during home confinement due to COVID-19. We enrolled parents from Italy, Portugal, and Spain who completed a survey between the second and fourth week of lockdown. The results showed that preschoolers displayed more sleeping difficulties, temper tantrums, and dependency while adolescents' reactions were more related to COVID-19 worries and uncertainty. Schoolchildren showed more difficulty in concentrating. Adolescent girls showed higher anxiety levels than schoolchildren boys. Schoolchildren relied more on emotion-oriented strategies, which were linked to increased internalizing and externalizing symptoms in all ages. Task-oriented strategies, regardless of the child's age, work best to cope with stress. Our findings provide information for professionals and parents about children's most common and adaptive coping strategies according to age. Furthermore, they contribute to the early detection of long-term psychological maladjustment in children.

Avoidant Coping Strategies in Adolescents in Situations of Social Conflict: An Attempt to Identify Personality Indicators

The study aimed to determine the personality indicators of the avoidant coping strategy in adolescent youth in situations of social conflict. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (adapted by I. Dzwonkowska, K. Lachowicz-Tabaczek, and M. Łaguna), the Stress Assessment Questionnaire (Kwestionariusz Oceny Stresu, KOS) designed by D. Włodarczyk and K. Wrześniewski, and Questionnaire for Coping Strategies in Adolescents in Situations of Social Conflict (Kwestionariusz do badania strategii radzenia sobie młodzieży w sytuacji konfliktu społecznego) created by Borecka-Biernat (2012). The empirical research was conducted in middle schools on 893 adolescents (468 girls and 425 boys) aged 13 to 15. An analysis of the research results indicates that a young person’s low assessment of own abilities and the assessment of a situation of conflict as a threat or harm/loss co-occur with the avoidant coping strategy in situations of social conflict.

A survey to evaluate mental well being and coping strategies of adolescents during COVID-19 pandemic in Bangalore, India

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant changes in the lifestyle of adolescents. Adolescence is a development stage of high vulnerability that can impact well-being later in life. Mental health plays an important role in one’s quality of life. Understanding coping mechanisms helps make a person safe and resilient from psychological distress. The present study aims to evaluate the mental well-being and coping strategies used by adolescents in India during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in a school in Bangalore, India via an online survey, circulated via the class teacher. Participants included 222 adolescents with ages ranging from 13 to 19. The DASS-21 and Brief COPE scales were used to assess mental well-being and coping mechanisms respectively. The questionnaire concluded with validated general lifestyle related questions. This included inquiring relationships between students and their families, friends, academic performance, social media consumption etc. The data was collected over a period of one month. 
 Results: In the DASS-21 scoring, 31.9% (n=69), 24.8% (n=55) and 5.4% (n=12) received scores indicating extremely severe depression, anxiety and stress respectively. Females were statistically found to be more depressed and anxious than males. Behavioural disengagement and self blame were commonly used coping mechanisms by those who were found to be psychologically distressed. 
 Conclusions: Psychological distress has been observed in adolescents in varying degrees during the COVID-19 pandemic. This should be addressed in order to prevent further distress.
 Keywords: adolescents, covid-19, mental well being, DASS-21, Brief COPE, depression, anxiety, stress

Coping Strategies used by Adults and Adolescents in Distressing Parenting Style

Objectives. The aim of the present study was to investigate coping strategies (problem-focusedand emotion-focused) of adolescents and adults with respect to distressing parenting style. It wasassumed that adults will score high on problem-focused engagement while adolescents onemotion-focused disengagement Coping Strategies Scale. Another assumption was that adultshaving parents with authoritative parenting style will use problem-focused engagement copingwhilst adolescents will use emotion-focused disengagement coping strategies.Method. A sample of (N=300) participants was included in the study out of which (n=150) wereadolescents and (n=150) were adults. The sample was taken from different institutes of Peshawar.Coping strategies of both groups were investigated by using Coping Strategies Inventory (CSI)(Tobin et al; 1984) and their parents’ parental style through Parenting Style Inventory II (Darling& Toyokawa 1997).Results. Result of the study showed that adults use problem-focused adaptive coping strategiesmore than adolescents, whereas, adolescents have higher score on emotion-focused maladaptivescale of coping strategies as compared to adults. Results also showed that coping strategies ofadults is not affected by parents’ authoritative or authoritarian parenting style, however, foradolescents’ authoritarian parenting style was distressing and lead them to use emotion-focuseddisengagement coping strategies.Conclusion. It is concluded from the present study that adults choose adaptive while adolescentschoose maladaptive coping strategies. Parenting style does have major effect on coping strategiesselection of individuals.

Perceptions, emotional reactions and needs of adolescent psychiatric inpatients during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews

BackgroundThe new coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has been accompanied by severe psychological pressure on the entire population. However, little is known about how this pandemic could affect the more vulnerable population with severe mental illness.AimsTo explore adolescent psychiatric inpatients’ perceptions, emotional reactions and needs during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsIndividual in-depth interviews were conducted with nine psychiatric inpatients aged 12–17 years. Through open-ended questions, interviewers initiated five themes: (a) knowledge about coronavirus pandemic, (b) changes in everyday routine due to the pandemic, (c) adolescents’ feelings about the pandemic, (d) adolescents’ positive thoughts and behaviors, and (e) how the social environment can help adolescents deal with the pandemic-related situation. A thematic analysis was conducted using line-by-line open coding.ResultsRegarding their knowledge of the impact of the current pandemic, almost all adolescents focused on information about the nature of coronavirus and on existing crisis management practices. Almost all patients identified predominantly negative changes due to the quarantine state, including restrictions on both social life and personal freedom as well as excessive contact with family members during home isolation. As far as their emotions were concerned, adolescents did acknowledge anxiety about self-harm and harming their loved ones as well as mood swings within the family nucleus; anxiety was also manifested about the unknown and the management of the pandemic in other countries. Avoidance of thought rumination about the coronavirus and its consequences, positive thinking and looking towards the future were reported as constructive strategies for coping with challenging emotions. Additionally, a sense of belongingness seems to have been playing a pivotal role in the adolescents coping strategies. Trust in the authorities and the community was another quite noteworthy point that emerged during the interviews. Lastly, our findings indicated adolescents’ benefit from receiving balanced health messaging coupled with balanced thinking within their social and family environment.ConclusionsEnhanced comprehension of possible mediating psychological pathways is needed to help clinicians, researchers, and decision-makers to avert the deterioration of mental disorders and overall functioning, as well as additional stress-related disorders.

Externalizing and internalizing symptoms and coping strategies in young victims of abuse

This research analyses the internalizing and externalizing symptoms and the coping strategies of young victims of abuse. These young people are in residential care under protective measures due to abuse. The participants were 61 youths (32 male and 29 female) between 12 and 17 years of age. Different works of research stress the need for an early identification of the psychopathological symptomatology that these adolescents may present in order to provide an adequate psycho-educational intervention. The relationship between the adolescents’ psychopathological symptomatology and the coping strategies and styles they use to resolve problems is studied. It is also analyzed whether internalizing and externalizing problems predict the style and coping strategies of adolescents. Two tests were used: 1. Child and Adolescent Evaluation System (SENA); 2. Adolescent Coping Scales (ACS). The results indicate that young victims of abuse have internalizing and externalizing symptoms. These adolescents are characterized by an unproductive coping style, as well as by the use of coping strategies that are not very functional and ineffective for resolving conflicts. The psychopathological symptomatology is related to and predicts an unproductive coping style, badly adapted to solving daily problems (worrying, blaming oneself, not coping, ignoring the problem, or keeping it to oneself). This research has allowed us to identify the presence of several areas of vulnerability in these young persons which could be playing an important role in their psychosocial maladjustment. The research suggests the design of intervention strategies, for both groups and individuals, aimed at mitigating and modifying the sources of the problems in victims of child abuse.

A Qualitative inquiry into the Coping strategies of Goan adolescents living with parents having alcohol Dependence

A Qualitative inquiry into the Coping strategies of Goan adolescents living with parents having alcohol Dependence

Защитно-совладающее поведение в подростковом и юношеском возрасте

The article presents data on studying correspondence between psychological defense mechanisms and coping strategies in teenage and adolescent years within the context of a unified system of self-regulation and adaptation. The relevance of research into defensive-coping behavior is conditioned by the need to understand interaction between defense mechanisms and coping strategies in teenage years and adolescence, as well as to solve the practical problem, i.e. to improve adaptive capabilities of adolescents and young men in stressful situations by reducing non-constructive forms of defensive-coping behavior. The purpose of the study is to investigate the interconnection between defense mechanisms and coping strategies as an individual makes a transition from teenage to adolescent years. Supposedly, defense mechanisms and coping strategies can both complement and contradict each other in teenage and adolescent years. The study was carried out on a sample (N = 203) consisting of representatives of teenage (n = 94, aged 12 to 15) and adolescent age groups (n = 109, aged 17 to 19), who attended general education and vocational schools of the town of Lipetsk. We used the following techniques: Life style index (R. Plutchik et al.), SACS test (S. Hobfoll). Based on the factor analysis, we singled out 4 styles of defensive-coping behaviour in teenagers (which explain 56.2% of general dispersion) and 5 styles of defensive-coping behaviour in adolescents (which explain 62.1% of general dispersion). We determined the factorial structure of the defensive-coping behavior of adolescents and young men. The analysis of the variables of the identified factors established the following: 1) problem-oriented coping strategies are in opposition to the defensive mechanism of regression; 2) immature forms of defense mechanisms (regression and substitution) "support" non-constructive coping strategies; 3) in adolescence, problem-oriented coping is used more actively. To ensure positive result in counseling practice with adolescents and young men, it is important to work with both non-constructive coping strategies and immature defenses.

Afrontar la diversidad entre adolescentes: Eficacia de las narrativas personales en webs de apoyo

Sharing, reading and responding to personal narratives on peer-to-peer support websites may provide adolescents with informational and emotional support to feel more confident in coping with stressful events. However, their use may also pose a threat to adolescents’ coping self-efficacy. Principles of expressive writing, social sharing of emotions, narrative persuasion and self-effects may provide insight in how these actions may both positively and negatively relate to coping self-efficacy. By using a cross-sectional online survey with 311 Dutch-speaking adolescents between the ages of 14 and 18, this article explores how these actions and social support motives (i.e. information-seeking and emotional support-seeking) are related to adolescents’ perceptions about the usefulness of these websites to their coping self-efficacy. The results showed a positive relation between adolescents’ social support motives and their belief in the usefulness of these websites to their coping self-efficacy. Therefore, we conclude that it may be an effective coping strategy for many adolescents. There was a negative relation between experience with sharing a personal narrative and coping self-efficacy, meaning that these users did not perceive the website to be helpful to their overall confidence in coping with stressful events. However, this negative relation was reversed when they were motivated to find emotional support with similar others. Compartir, leer y responder a narraciones personales en webs de apoyo entre iguales puede tanto fortalecer como amenazar la confianza de los adolescentes para hacer frente a los acontecimientos estresantes (es decir, la autoeficacia como estrategia de afrontamiento). Los principios de la escritura expresiva, el intercambio social de emociones, la persuasión narrativa y los efectos en uno mismo pueden proporcionar información sobre la forma en que esas acciones pueden relacionarse con la autoeficacia como estrategia de afrontamiento. Mediante una encuesta transversal en línea con 311 adolescentes de habla holandesa de entre 14 y 18 años, este artículo explora cómo estas acciones y los motivos del apoyo social (es decir, la búsqueda de información y la búsqueda de apoyo emocional) se relacionan con la autoeficacia de los adolescentes como estrategia de afrontamiento tras usar la web de apoyo entre iguales. Los resultados muestran que la experiencia de los usuarios al leer y responder a narraciones personales no estaba relacionada con su autoeficacia de afrontamiento. Sin embargo, se encontró una relación negativa entre la experiencia de compartir una narración personal y la autoeficacia, por lo que los usuarios no percibieron que el sitio web fuera útil para su confianza general a la hora de hacer frente a acontecimientos estresantes. No obstante, esta relación negativa se invirtió cuando también tenían el objetivo de encontrar apoyo emocional con sus iguales.

The relationships between body image, self-efficacy, and coping strategy among Indonesian adolescents who experienced body shaming

This study aimed to identify the relationships between body image, self-efficacy, and coping strategies in Indonesian adolescents who had been victims of body shaming. A cross-sectional descriptive-correlative method as used in this study. We recruited 168 high school students in a public school in Indonesia obtained through screening body shaming with a purposive sampling technique. The results of univariate analysis were 53% of adolescents had negative body image, 56% of adolescents had low self-efficacy, 73.8% of adolescents used emotional-focused coping. There was a statistically significant relationship between body image and self-efficacy (p=0.000); as well as between self-efficacy and coping strategies (p=0.001). However, that body image was not significantly related to the coping strategies (p=0.124). Body image is linked to self-efficacy as self-efficacy is linked to the coping strategies among the Indonesian adolescents who had experienced body shaming.

Adolescents’ Perception, Practice and Coping Strategies during COVID-19 Pandemic in Rivers State, Nigeria

COVID-19 is perceived as a major threat to public health and a danger to the economy globally, affecting people’s lives by influencing their everyday behaviour and causing feelings of panic anxiety, depression, and often triggering intense fear. The study was aimed at determining the perception, practice and coping strategies of adolescents in Rivers state, Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adolescent via an online Google doc questionnaire administered through WhatsApp instant messaging and about 200 responses were received within two month. About (45%) were middle adolescent (14-16 years), 52% were females, 74% in secondary school and 64% from monogamous family. Majority (66%) believed in the existence COVID-19, 36% of the adolescents perceived it was a deadly disease, 17% said it was a pandemic, 18% reported is a deadly virus that kills people fast and 6% said is a disease that ruined the whole world. About 54% were worried and perceived they might be infected with coronavirus. Majority (94%) practiced one or more forms of COVID-19 preventive practices. Following the coping strategies, majority of the adolescents used more of emotion-focused way of coping than problem-focused way of coping. The male gender used more of problem focused way of coping than the female gender. Findings of this research are useful to better understand the coping strategies utilized by adolescents and help formulate intervention strategies to tackle various psychosocial problems during COVID-19 among adolescents.

Reactions to hair loss and coping strategies in adolescents with cancer

Enquadramento: O cancro na adolescência tem um impacte importante no desenvolvimento psicossocial e físico, sendo a queda do cabelo considerada foco de grande ansiedade e stresse. Objetivos: Identificar as reações emocionais à queda do cabelo dos adolescentes com doença oncológica; as estratégias de coping mais utilizadas; e as percecionadas como mais eficazes; bem como, analisar as relações entre reações emocionais e estratégias utilizadas; e as relações entre variáveis demográficas/clínicas e reações emocionais, estratégias utilizadas e respetiva eficácia. Metodologia: Estudo quantitativo, transversal, descritivo-correlacional, com uma amostra de 30 adolescentes. Resultados: Salienta-se que a queda do cabelo é um problema considerado grande/urgente, sendo a tristeza/choro e o medo/irritabilidade as emoções que melhor descrevem a reação dos adolescentes. Os resultados indicam, também, as estratégias mais utilizadas, as percecionadas como mais eficazes e a existência de relações entre reações emocionais e estratégias de coping utilizadas, assim como, entre variáveis demográficas, reações emocionais e estratégias. Conclusão: O conhecimento das reações à queda do cabelo destes adolescentes e das estratégias de enfrentamento, é essencial para uma prática de enfermagem mais direcionada.

Social Disadvantages and Peer Victimization: Exploring Potential Pathways

The present study tests a conceptual framework guided by the social disorganization theory, which examined whether neighborhood deterioration was correlated with perceived hopelessness, and coping strategies (i.e., defending behavior and a display of a tough demeanor). We also examined whether, within the context of social disadvantage, some coping strategies were correlated with aggressive behavior, which might be associated with peer victimization. The study sample consisted of 502 African American youths in low‐resource communities in Chicago’s Southside. Results indicated that neighborhood deterioration was positively associated with hopelessness (B = .138, p = .006), tough demeanor (B = .137, p = .042), and peer victimization (B = .158, p = .011). Also, hopelessness was positively associated with peer victimization (B = .109, p = .025). Defending behavior was positively associated with physical aggression (B = .110, p = .009) and verbal aggression (B = .047, p = .019). Moreover, tough demeanor was also positively associated with physical aggression (B = .217, p < .001) and verbal aggression (B = .169, p < .001). Furthermore, verbal aggression was found to be positively associated with peer victimization (B = .766, p = .019). Overall, findings point to a more nuanced and complex relationship between neighborhood conditions and peer victimization among urban African American youth. An understanding of the coping strategies of urban adolescents in dealing with peer victimization encounters can shed light on the complexities of adolescent peer dynamics in urban areas.