Coping Strategy Indicator Research Articles

Early Adolescents' Friendship Patterns in Middle School: Social–Emotional and Academic Implications

AbstractThis research examined the interactions between friendship patterns, school achievement, coping skills, self-concept and the classroom learning environment for 182 early adolescents, mean age 13 years 5 months (47.25% male). Participants completed the Friendship Nomination Form. The second phase of data collection focused on adolescents with high or low friendship ratings, who then completed four social and two academic measures. The social measures were: (1) Friendship Quality Scale (FQS; Bukowski, Hoza, & Boivin, 1994), (2) Self-Description Questionnaire II–Short Form (Marsh, 1990), (3) Coping Strategy Indicator–Short Form (CSI-S; Amirkhan, 1990) and (4) What is Happening in this Classroom Scale (WIHIC; Fraser, Fisher, & McRobbie, 1996). Adolescents with more friends reported more companionship and help from friends. Those with fewer friends perceived their classroom to be less cohesive and less cooperative. Females reported more closeness and friendship commitment than males. Friendship patterns had a significant influence on students' English achievement but not their mathematics achievement. The implications of the findings for school professional are discussed.

Caratteristiche depressive, strategie di coping e ambiente familiare in adolescenza

- The main purpose of this paper is to study depressive characteristics in adolescents and their link with parental relationship and coping strategies. It is our aims also to analyse the influence of particiants' gender on these varaibles. Four hundred thirty-six participants (214 males; 222 females), aged fourteen to twenty-two years, were recruited. A set of were employed Depression Scale (Newcomer, Barembaum and Bryant, 1995), Parental Bonding Instrument (Parker, Tupling and Brown, 1979), Coping Strategy Indicator (Amirkhan, 1990). Depressive characteristics were related to overprotection and low parental care; depressive charachteristics, indeed, were related to coping strategies, in particular to avoidance.

Stress, Coping Styles, and Spousal Bereavement: Exploring Patterns of Grieving Among Black Widowed Spouses in Rural South Africa

This research investigated the stress-coping relationship following spousal bereavement among 198 recently bereaved Black widowed spouses in rural South Africa. Scores on the Coping Strategy Indicator indicated avoidant (5%), problem-solving (58%), and social support seeking (24%) coping strategies; 13% of the participants oscillated between problem-solving and social support seeking coping. No significant correlations emerged between anxiety and coping, and depression was positively correlated with problem-solving coping and social support seeking coping. Implications for intervention are centered on psychoeducating the bereaved, within the sociocultural framework, to foster social ties that promote problem-focused aid.

Psychological Adjustment to Conjugal Bereavement: Do Social Networks Aid Coping following Spousal Death?

This research sought to investigate the role of social networks in coping and adjustment to spousal bereavement. A total of 198 Xhosa-speaking participants, drawn from the rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, took part in the study. Quantitative data analyses revealed significant correlations between perceived social support on Social Support Appraisals scale and the anxiety scores on the Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition and the problem-solving coping strategy scale on the Coping Strategy Indicator. Regression analyses revealed that depression contributed to increased social support appraisals, while anxiety was a significant negative predictor of the participants' experience of perceived social support. The authors highlight the need for bereavement intervention programs in the rural areas to be geared toward psycho-educating the conjugally bereaved individuals, within the socio-cultural framework, to continuously evaluate their support structures and strengthen ties with social networks that render support, instrumental assistance, and advice in times of need.

Subjective Well-being of Primary Health Care Patients in the Western Cape, South Africa

Background: Patients living with a chronic illness face many challenges in their lives such as an altered body image, physical pain or discomfort, the need for frequent medical visits and the negative side effects of treatment. To this extent their sense of personal or subjective well-being may be compromised by the severity and chronicity of their illness. The aim of the present study was to explore the level of subjective well-being and its relationship with coping, quality of life and support from family and friends among a sample of Black South Africans attending semi-rural public clinics for treatment for hypertension and diabetes. This study was part of a larger project on treatment adherence to medication among patients living with these conditions. Methods: A convenience sample of 117 patients aged between 22 and 82 years (M=52.36, SD=13.24), receiving treatment for hypertension (n=79) or diabetes (n=24) at three primary health care clinics in the Boland area of the Western Cape were asked to participate in this study. Of the total sample, 14 (12%) were diagnosed with both conditions. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire battery consisting of the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Coping Strategy Indicator, the Functioning Assessment of Non-Life Threatening Conditions and the Perceived Social Support Scale. Results: The mean score of the Satisfaction with Life Scale was 28.70, which was significantly higher than those of other studies using this mea-sure. In order to address the problem of experiment-wise error, commonly associated with the use of multiple statistical comparisons, we used the Bonferronni correction in arriving at probability levels in determining statistical significance. On average the sample as a whole appeared to be largely satisfied. The mean scores on the two of the subscales of the Coping Strategy Indicator were significantly different from those obtained from other South African samples. On the Functioning Assessment of Non-Life Threatening Conditions, the mean scores on the subscales but not the total score was significantly higher than other South African samples. Conclusions: In general, participants scored significantly higher on all of the measuring instruments compared with other South African samples, indicating high levels of life satisfaction, coping, and support from others. We found no relationship between life satisfaction and gender. Age however correlated positively with satisfaction with Life, Support from family, social and emotional well being and Quality of Life, which concurs with the findings of previous studies. Contrary to other studies we found a significant negative correlation between education and SWLS but no relationship between employment and SWLS. Our sample also reported higher levels of support from friends and family that were significantly higher than those of other South African samples. The mean scores on all the subscales of the Coping Strategy Indicator were higher than that of other South African samples. South African Family Practice Vol. 50 (3) 2008: pp. 68-68d

Household food security status measured by the US-Household Food Security/Hunger Survey Module (US-FSSM) is in line with coping strategy indicators found in urban and rural Indonesia.

The food security assessment used by the United State's Food Security/Hunger Survey Module (US- FSSM) was used in five studies: these were in two urban and four rural areas in Indonesia between February 2004- August 2005. The number of households assessed was 3,704 and consisted of 45% urban and 55% rural. All households had children below five years. This paper aims to assess the applicability of US-FSSM for measuring household food-insecurity in Indonesia. Common coping-strategies discussed are to borrow money from the family, get an additional job, to lessen portion size of food, and to sell small assets. Although households in urban and rural areas were similar in size/number of children and male headed; the urban households were more income-secure, educated, and had better access to electrical appliances. A majority of the households was food-insecure (77% and 84% in urban and rural consecutively). More food-insecure households without and with hunger were found in rural areas. The number of affirmative responses to 17 out of 18 questions in the USFSSM was more in the rural households, showing less fortunate cases of food-insecurity. For a given coping strategy, as food-security status becomes more severe, the higher the percentage of households employing it. For a given food-security status, percentage of households was higher among lower-degree and less among higher-degree coping. Combining food-security and coping-strategy indicators may help to identify transient-food-secure households. Observing both indicators throughout different time of the year continuously may further identify adaptive mechanism by chronic-food-insecure households. Information on household food diversity could enrich findings on dietary intake modification, hence moving from food-security to nutrition-security.

Coping with stress across the lifespan: Absolute vs. relative changes in strategy

Developmental theories presume dramatic differences in the coping of the young and old, but with little empirical support. In this study, five demographically matched groups: Pre-Teens (9–12 years, n = 153), Early Teens (13–15, n = 141), Late Teens (16–18, n = 151), Younger Adults (20–29, n = 133), and Older Adults (30–70, n = 133) completed child-friendly Coping Strategy Indicators, in reference to personal problems. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses showed all age groups use the same types of coping. However, groups differed in their preferences among these types, exhibiting general increases in Problem Solving and declines in Avoidance with age. This pattern held within problem-type, suggesting that it cannot be explained by differences in the stressors experienced. Implications for future research and assessment are discussed.

Predicting vicarious traumatization in those indirectly exposed to bushfires

AbstractPost‐traumatic stress through indirect exposure to trauma can mimic the psychological experiences of direct victims. This is referred to as vicarious traumatization, an impairing condition that largely goes undetected in the general population. This study sought to describe this condition and predict those who may be at risk of developing this type of post‐traumatic stress. One hundred and fifteen participants from south‐east New South Wales (NSW) in Australia who had not experienced any direct exposure, loss or injury from the 2001–2002 NSW bushfires were interviewed using the Vicarious Traumatization Questionnaire, Impact of Events Scale and Coping Strategies Indicator. Results indicated that specific peri‐event, post‐event and pre‐event characteristics were able to predict at least 75 per cent of those who experienced vicarious traumatization resulting from the 2001–2002 NSW bushfires. This study was able to identify and describe vicarious traumatization in a sample of the general population. The importance of these results and the issues for further research are discussed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Dimensional analysis of the coping strategy indicator in a sample of elderly veterans with acquired limb amputations

The Coping Strategy Indicator (CSI), developed by Amirkhan (1990), is intended as a ‘widely applicable’ self-report measure of situational coping encompassing the strategies of avoidance, problem solving and seeking social support. Nonetheless, the instrument’s initial development phase was exclusively premised on Californian samples, prompting Parker and Endler (1992) to highlight the need for cross-validation with other populations. The aim of this study was to examine the factor structure of the Coping Strategy Indicator in a sample of 618 British individuals with a chronic health challenge, namely amputation of a limb(s). Confirmatory factor analyses were used to compare four different models of the CSI structure (one-factor, three-orthogonal factors, three-oblique factors and four-oblique factors). The results indicate that the oblique-three-factor model, coherent with the subscales derived in the original sample ( Amirkhan, 1990) provided adequate fit to the data. An oblique four-factor model described by Ager and MacLachlan (1998) provided the best fit. Further research is necessary in terms of developing and scoring the instrument as a four-dimensional tool. These results provide further support for the suggestion that the scale is generalizable across population, cultural, and situational variation.

TREATMENT ADHERENCE AND COPING WITH STRESS AMONG BLACK SOUTH AFRICAN HAEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

Chronic illness is often experienced as stressful both physically and psychologically. The purpose of this study was to investigate how haemodialysis patients cope with treatment-related stress and to establish whether or not coping is related to treatment adherence. Subjects were a convenience sample of 50 black patients undergoing haemodialysis at a South African hospital. Data on coping were collected using the Coping Strategy Indicator (CSI) while treatment adherence was measured by interdialytic weight gain (IWG). The results showed that avoidance and social-support seeking were the most used coping strategies while problem solving was used least. The latter was the only coping strategy significantly associated with treatment adherence. It was concluded that intervention oriented toward problem solving may be helpful in enhancement of adherence behavior.

Gender Differences in Coping Strategies of Spousal Dementia Caregivers

A sample of 63 spousal dementia caregivers was obtained through the Orange and Los Angeles Caregivers Resource Centers (CRC). Subjects completed the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Coping Strategy Indicator. Results indicated significant gender differences in regard to both depression and coping strategies. Women were significantly more depressed than men. Female caregivers sought more social support and employed more avoidance strategies than did males. Additionally, there was a significant negative correlation found between social support and depression, and a significant positive correlation between avoidance strategies and depression. Implications include increasing the level of social support and reducing the level of avoidance strategies used among caregivers in an effort to improve their quality of life.

Stressors, coping and depression in haemodialysis patients

Stressors, coping and depression in haemodialysis patients Background: Depression is common in persons receiving outpatient haemodialysis, but little work has been done to explore the variables associated with depression. Aims: The primary purposes of this study were to (i) examine relationships among stressors, coping and depression and (ii) test the mediating role of coping. Design/Methods: Data were collected at two points in time, three months apart in 1995/1996. The final convenience sample at Time 2 was 86 participants from two United States midwestern, inner‐city dialysis units. Structured interviews were conducted using the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, the haemodialysis stressor scale (HSS) and the coping strategy indicator. Results: At Time 1 more psychosocial stressors were associated with greater use of problem‐solving, social‐support and avoidance coping. Both avoidance coping and more psychosocial stressors at Time 1 were related to depression at Time 2. Finally, avoidance coping was found to explain much of the relationship between psychosocial stressors and depression. Conclusions: Research is now needed that explicates the causal relationships among stress, coping and depression in haemodialysis patients.

Stressors, coping and depression in haemodialysis patients.

Depression is common in persons receiving outpatient haemodialysis, but little work has been done to explore the variables associated with depression. The primary purposes of this study were to (i) examine relationships among stressors, coping and depression and (ii) test the mediating role of coping. Data were collected at two points in time, three months apart in 1995/1996. The final convenience sample at Time 2 was 86 participants from two United States midwestern, inner-city dialysis units. Structured interviews were conducted using the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, the haemodialysis stressor scale (HSS) and the coping strategy indicator. At Time 1 more psychosocial stressors were associated with greater use of problem-solving, social-support and avoidance coping. Both avoidance coping and more psychosocial stressors at Time 1 were related to depression at Time 2. Finally, avoidance coping was found to explain much of the relationship between psychosocial stressors and depression. Research is now needed that explicates the causal relationships among stress, coping and depression in haemodialysis patients.

Returning refugees: Psychosocial problems and mediators of mental health among Malawian returnees

The psychosocial problems and mediators of mental health were investigated in an adult sample of 74 Malawian returnees. A semi-structured interview indicated a number of specific problems facing the returnees, including reclaiming land, discrimination and disappointed expectations. A demographic questionnaire, the Coping Strategy Indicator, the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, and the Generalised Self-Efficacy Scale were used to identify potential mediating factors on mental health as measured by the Self Reporting Questionnaire and number of visits to a doctor/healer in the last year. Stepwise Regression analysis revealed that number of trauma events experienced, generalised self-efficacy and gender were significant predictors of mental health. However, there was no significant relationship between the measures of coping strategies and mental health. These results are discussed in relation to theories of stress, learned helplessness, and the possibility of facilitating returnee reintegration. The importance of contextualising the aims and instruments of research is emphasised.

Racial Discrimination, Coping, Life Satisfaction, and Self‐Esteem Among African Americans

This article reports the results of a study that examined the coping strategies used by African Americans in managing the stressful effects of racism. A total of 213 participants (women, n = 137; men, n = 76) completed the Index of Race‐Related Stress (S. O. Utsey & J. G. Ponterotto, 1996), the Coping Strategy Indicator (J. H. Amirkhan, 1990), the Satisfaction With Life Scale (E. Diener, R. A. Emmons, R. J. Larsen, & S. Griffin, 1985), and the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale (M. Rosenberg, 1965). Results indicated that women preferred avoidance coping for racism experienced on a personal level. For African Americans in general, seeking social support and racism condition were the best predictors of racism‐related stress. Life satisfaction and self‐esteem were best predicted by avoidance coping. Implications for the provision of counseling services to African Americans are discussed.

Anxiety, Depression and Coping Strategies in Recently Detoxified Alcoholics

To investigate the relationships between the coping strategies used by recently detoxified alcoholics and anxiety as well as depression, 53 recently detoxified alcoholics completed a biographical questionnaire, the S-scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory and the Coping Strategy Indicator. Of the 53 subjects, 72% experienced above average anxiety and depression was present in 77%. An avoidant coping strategy emerged as a significant positive predictor of both anxiety and depression. This indicates the ineffectiveness of an avoidant coping strategy for alcoholic patients. A problem-solving coping strategy emerged as a significant negative predictor of both anxiety and depression, which indicates the adaptive value of a problem-solving coping strategy. These findings suggest that training in problem-solving coping strategies, as opposed to avoidance, may improve the success rate of alcohol rehabilitation programs.

Alternative food-security indicators: revisiting the frequency and severity of `coping strategies'

Recent research on the multi-factorial nature of food security has provided a wealth of analytical insight, but measurement problems remain a major challenge, not only for research, but particularly for targeting, program management, monitoring and evaluation. Building on an approach suggested in a 1996 article, this paper constructs a series of alternative food-security indicators based on the frequency and severity of consumption-related coping strategies. These alternative indicators are then compared with more standard measures, including a consumption benchmark, a poverty benchmark and a nutritional benchmark using data from the 1997 Accra Urban Food and Nutrition Study. Against these more traditional indicators, the coping strategy indicators are best at ruling out cases—that is, minimizing the risk of classifying a food-insecure household as food-secure. They also help to identify sources of vulnerability and the trade-offs made with other basic needs to acquire sufficient food. The measures outlined here are much less time-consuming and less expensive in terms of data collection and analysis, and therefore perhaps offer a pragmatic alternative to food and livelihood program managers. However, the comparative analysis of conventional benchmarks with the coping strategies indicator reveals some shortcomings with the benchmark indicators as well—a sign that perhaps the indicators of food security proposed here are both alternative and complementary measures.

Stress and Coping Strategies in Spouses of Depressed Patients

The relationships between the coping strategies used by spouses of clinically depressed patients and spouses' anxiety, depression, and marital maladjustment were investigated. Fifty spouses of clinically depressed patients completed a biographical questionnaire, the Coping Strategy Indicator (J. H. Amirkhan, 1990, 1994), the Beck Depression Inventory (A. T. Beck, 1967; A. T. Beck, C. H. Ward, M. Mendelson, J. Mock, & J. Erbaugh, 1961), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (C. D. Spielberger, R. E. Lushene, B. A. Vagg, & E. Jacobs, 1983), and the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test (H. J. Locke & K. M. Wallace, 1959, 1987). Anxiety was highly prevalent in the spouses; more than half were depressed, and half showed marital maladjustment. Significant positive correlations were found between an avoidant coping strategy and anxiety as well as depression, and a significant negative correlation was found between an avoidant coping strategy and marital adjustment. These findings indicate the ineffectiveness of an avoidant coping strategy for spouses of clinically depressed patients.

Psychometric properties of the Coping Strategy Indicator (CSI) in a study of coping behaviour amongst malawian students

The Coping Strategy Indicator (CSI; Amirkhan 1990) is an inductively derived measure of responses to adverse circumstances. Although seeking to isolate “a few fundamental strategies with wide applicability” (Amirkhan 1990). the initial validation studies were all based on Californian populations. The present study repork findings from completion of the CSI by 415 Malawian students as part of their enrolment health check up. Factor analysis (principal components analysis with varimax rotation) identified three factors with very similar structure and loadings to those identified by Amirkhan, namely, Support Seeking, Problem Solving and Avoidance. As with the initial validation study, there was some evidence of withdrawal and distraction forming identifiable sub-components of Avoidance. The CSI does appear to provide a measure of core coping strategies which is robust across cultural settings, the theoretical implications of which are considered. The influence of factors such as age and gender on CSI scores is discussed

Psychometric properties of the Coping Strategy Indicator in a Flemish sample

The Coping Strategy Indicator (CSI) is a self-report measure of the degree to which the coping strategies of problem-solving, seeking social support and avoidance have been used in response to a specific stressor. The current study presents a factor analysis of the Dutch CSI and describes the psychometric properties of the instrument. As expected, the analysis reveals a clear three-factor solution with the same factor pattern as found in the original study. We also provide data concerning the relationship with demographics.