Social Coping Research Articles

Exploring the Influence of Coping Mechanisms to the Role of Social Support in Impostor Syndrome Experiences of Public Elementary Teachers: A Cross-sectional Study

This research delved into the persistent issue of Impostor Syndrome (IS) among public elementary school teachers. The current study aimed to address gaps in existing literature, particularly within the realm of educational and industrial/organizational psychology. A total of 115 teachers were examined to gain insight into how social support and coping mechanisms related to their experiences with IS. The results highlighted a significant presence of IS among teachers, emphasizing the crucial roles played by social support and coping mechanisms. Interestingly, the study showed that the link between social support and IS was influenced by coping mechanisms, underlining the importance of personalized interventions. Additionally, the study recommended exploring factors such as organizational culture, self-efficacy, job autonomy, and goal orientations as potential predictors of IS. The practical implications of this research extended to teachers, schools, and administrators, underscoring the need for supportive environments and targeted interventions to address Impostor Syndrome’s impact. This study provided a strong foundation for future researchers, offering a detailed understanding of IS in the context of public elementary school education.

Impact of social support on the resilience of youth: mediating effects of coping styles.

Chinese youth are at high risk for depression with a significantly higher detection rate of depression risk than other age groups, which brings about a huge challenge to the mental health work of universities. Developing supportive resources that promote resilience against adverse environmental influences in high-risk groups is quite more urgent than medical treatment for firm diagnoses of mental issues that have developed into depression in the current background. A total of 665 university students in China completed self-reported questionnaires measuring psychological resilience, social support, and coping styles. The structural equation model testing on the goodness of fit of the theoretical framework was first performed. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlation analysis among social support, resilience, and coping styles were then conducted. At last, we tested the mediating role of coping styles. Social support has a significant positive effect on the psychological resilience of the youth. Mixed coping and immature coping styles have significant negative impacts on both social support and resilience, while mature coping styles have a significant positive effect on social support and resilience. Mature and immature coping styles mediate the association between social support and resilience in youth. Based on stress theory, this study explores mechanisms that facilitate the development of resilience in young people with regard to social support and coping styles. The current research depicts an interventional perspective of building a social support network that guides the youth to adopt mature coping styles to enhance their resilience and facilitate their mental health.

Social problem-solving, coping strategies and communication among 5th and 7th graders

ABSTRACT The aim of the study is to explore the characteristics of social problem-solving, coping strategies and assertive communication among 5th- and 7th-grade students (N = 378). Communication is assessed with the Assertiveness Questionnaire (AQ, Gaumer Erickson et al., 2016), social problem-solving with the Social Problem-Solving Inventory – Revised (SPSI – R, D’Zurilla et al., 2002) and coping strategies with the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ, Lazarus & Folkman, 1988). The results show that mostly significant differences can be found between pre-adolescents and early adolescents in the three social fields. Low belief in problem-solving is more common among older students, and – besides the age difference – there are a number of areas where boys and girls differ, even among younger students. The SEM clearly identifies strong links between communication, coping strategies and problem solving. The results provide a more nuanced picture of boys’ social problem-solving, coping strategies and communication and the relation between them than before.

The Costs of Coping: Long-Term Mortality Risk in Aging Men.

Prospective associations between coping and all-cause mortality risk are understudied, particularly among nonmedical samples. We assessed independent and joint associations of multiple components of the transactional stress and coping model with all-cause mortality in a cohort of community-dwelling men. We were particularly interested in how coping effort related to mortality. Participants included 743 men from the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study who completed 1+ stress and coping assessment in 1993-2002 (baseline age: M = 68.4, standard deviation [SD] = 7.1) and had mortality follow-up through 2020. The Brief California Coping Inventory assessed coping with a past-month stressor. Cox regression evaluated associations of problem stressfulness, coping strategies, total coping effort, and coping efficiency with all-cause mortality risk. Over a mean follow-up of 16.7 years (SD = 7.1), 473 (64%) men died. Problem stressfulness was not associated with mortality risk (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.98-1.17), adjusted for demographics and health conditions. When examining coping via specific strategies, only social coping was associated with higher mortality risk (HR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.05-1.26) after Bonferroni correction. Total coping effort was associated with 14% greater risk of all-cause mortality (95% CI: 1.04-1.26), independent of problem stressfulness, demographics, and health conditions. Coping efficiency, a benefit-cost ratio of coping efficacy to total coping effort, was not associated with mortality risk in adjusted models. Total coping effort may be an important indicator for longevity among aging men, above and beyond problem stressfulness and specific coping strategies, which have been the foci in prior research.

Assessing wildfire exposure and social vulnerability at the local scale using a GIS-based approach

Exposure and vulnerability analysis are valuable tools for wildfire management, especially important for local communities that suffer from very destructive events and that require mitigation approaches adjusted to their abilities and needs. We present a methodological procedure to analyze wildfire exposure levels, social vulnerability conditions and coping capacity at the local scale, for villages or small human settlements. The procedure was developed using GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and programming tools in R and Python, which can be adapted and updated depending on the data available. The development of accessible procedures and easily replicable methodologies facilitates knowledge transfer and supports the application of mitigation and adaptation strategies, tailored to the conditions of the exposed areas.•A step-by-step procedure for the assessment of Exposure, Vulnerability, and Coping Capacity, using Python and R programming language.•Automated processes, easily replicable and adjustable to other areas.•Indications for adapting the methodology using European/international databases.

Academic stress in college students: descriptive analyses and scoring of the SISCO-II inventory.

In a competitive and demanding world, academic stress is of increasing concern to students. This systemic, adaptive, and psychological process is composed of stressful stimuli, imbalance symptoms, and coping strategies. The SISCO-II Academic Stress Inventory (SISCO-II-AS) is a psychometric instrument validated in Chile. It evaluates stressors, symptoms, and coping, both individually and globally. For its practical interpretation, a scale is required. Therefore, this study aims to descriptively analyze the SISCO-II-AS and to obtain its corresponding scales. Employing a non-experimental quantitative approach, we administered the SISCO-II-AS to 1,049 second and third-year students from three Chilean universities, with a disproportionate gender representation of 75.21% female to 24.79% male participants. Through descriptive and bivariate analysis, we established norms based on percentiles. For the complete instrument and its subscales, significant differences by sex were identified, with magnitudes varying from small to moderate. For the full instrument and its subscales, bar scale norms by percentile and sex are presented. Each subscale (stressors, physical and psychological reactions, social behavioural reactions, total reaction, and coping) has score ranges defined for low, medium, and high levels. These ranges vary according to the sex of the respondent, with notable differences in stressors and physical, psychological, and social behavioural reactions. This study stands out for its broad and heterogeneous sample, which enriches the representativeness of the data. It offers a comprehensive view of academic stress in college students, identifying distinctive factors and highlighting the importance of gender-sensitive approaches. Its findings contribute to understanding and guide future interventions. By offering a descriptive analysis of the SISCO-II-AS inventory and establishing bar norms, this research aids health professionals and educators in better assessing and addressing academic stress in the student population.

Exploring Social Work professionals' Experiences of the Mindfulness-Based Social Work and Self-Care Programme: A Focus Group Study.

The evidence for the potential of mindfulness-based programmes to support improved social work practice and self-care is growing. The aim of this focus group study was to explore social workers' (n = 13) experiences of the Mindfulness-based Social Work and Self-care programme (MBSWSC). Thematic analysis highlighted two superordinate themes: benefits to direct social work practice and coping with the social work role. Four subordinate themes highlighted the different social work practice components that were enhanced through MBSWSC participation: social work assessment, service user engagement and team working, working to social work values, and social work skills. Three subordinate themes identified improvements in individual processes which supported enhanced stress coping: moving from avoidant to approach coping, improved boundaries, increased emotional awareness and reduced negative thinking. Our findings indicate that the MBSWSC programme can have a multi-faceted positive effect on social work practice, and on social work professional's capacity to cope with their role.

Embodied Uncertainty and COVID-19: Social identity, stigma, trust and coping through the pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a novel and evolving experience impacting health, livelihoods, well-being, decision-making, and community life. While uncertainty is seen as integral to the pandemic experience, limited literature has examined the consequences of the same, as embodied within individual and collective experiences. From the theoretical lens of Embodied Uncertainty (Sword-Daniels et al. 2018), the present study explored meaning making and coping with uncertainty as embodied in the lived experiences of the pandemic, through longitudinal qualitative research (LQR). Participants from a diverse socio demographic pool were interviewed in 2020 (N = 30) and 2021 (N = 14), following the two major phases of Covid-19 outbreak in India. Thematic analysis revealed complex intersections between social identity, stigma and economic strife and how novel coping strategies were being employed as the ongoing nature of the pandemic became a reality. We also found shifts in information seeking and institutional trust, shaped by the lived experiences of people as opposed to policy and state action. The results highlight key areas of vulnerability and coping with uncertainty in collective crises, gaps in state response and its impact, and how social identities shape interpretations of risks.

Amigas Latinas Motivando el Alma: Participant Perspectives on an In-Person and Online Implementation of an Intervention to Promote Mental Health in Latina Immigrant Women.

Amigas Latinas Motivando el Alma is a community-based intervention designed to increase social support and coping strategies among Latina immigrant women at risk for depression and anxiety. To assess satisfaction and perceived efficacy of the intervention, we conducted interviews with 32 participants that received the intervention in-person and online. Participants across both modalities found the program supportive in maintaining their mental health. They learned stress management techniques and found the support from facilitators and other participants helpful. Those receiving the intervention in-person were able to connect with other participants more easily than those that received it online. Those receiving it online noted distractions at home that made it challenging to fully engage. Community-based interventions that promote coping strategies and social support are a promising strategy for addressing mental health disparities among Latina immigrant women.TRN: NCT03749278, date of registration: November 21, 2018.

Cognition and emotional distress in middle-aged and older adults with spina bifida myelomeningocele.

To investigate cognitive functioning and emotional distress in adults aged 55 to 68 years old with spina bifida myelomeningocele (SBM), both with and without hydrocephalus. A secondary aim was to explore the associations between psychosocial factors in relation to emotional distress. Cross-sectional study of eleven females and eight males with SBM, five with and twelve without hydrocephalus. Cognitive functioning was investigated with neuropsychological tests and self-report measures. Furthermore, participants completed questionnaires regarding resilience, access to social support, coping, and emotional distress. Descriptive statistics were applied, and Spearman Rho correlation coefficients were used to explore the relationships between psychosocial factors and emotional distress. Eleven exhibited normal cognitive functioning. An observed difference was seen between participants with and without hydrocephalus, where six and five persons reported clinical levels of depression and anxiety, respectively. Positive perceptions of self and future were associated with lower levels of depression and anxiety. This study adds important information about cognitive functioning and emotional distress in an understudied population. The results indicated normal cognitive functioning in adults aged 55 to 68 years with SBM without hydrocephalus. Prevalence of emotional distress was comparable with previous studies of younger adults with SBM. There is a need for longitudinal studies investigating cognition and psychological health to fully capture important aspects of the life course of SBM with and without hydrocephalus.

Review Theories of Subjective Well-being and the Impact of Stress: The Mediating Effect of Resilience

The study aims to investigate the impact of related stress on Chinese university students’ Subjective well-being in the context of the mediating effect of resilience. Related theories were studied and analysed and therein significant contributions leading to the understanding of the relationship between the variables were inferred. Thus, academic, employment, interpersonal and financial stresses proved to be important ingredients in shaping the subjective well-being of Chinese student. Coping techniques such as resilience was proposed, and the technique was extensively analysed to determine the degree of the contribution it will offer in mitigating stress by the Chinese university students. Theories such as social comparison theory, telic theory, personalitytheory, coping theory and stress response theory were consulted in understanding the study contributions. The study suggested further research on strategies that can be adopted in mitigating stress affecting the Chinese university students.

Fostering resilience and well-being in emerging adults with adverse childhood experiences: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the FACE self-help app

BackgroundAdverse childhood experiences (ACE) are linked to an increased risk of psychological disorders and lower psychosocial functioning throughout life. This study aims to evaluate the FACE self-help app, designed to promote resilience and well-being in emerging adults with a history of ACE. The app is based on cognitive-behavioural principles and consists of two thematic components: (1) self- and emotion regulation (SER) and (2) social skills and biases in social information processing (SSIP).MethodsThe efficacy of the app will be tested through a single-centre, two-arm randomized controlled trial, comparing an active intervention group against a waiting list control group. The active group is divided into two subgroups, in which the two components are delivered in a different order to investigate differential effects in a crossover design. Up to 250 emerging adults aged 18 to 25 years with a history of ACE from a general population cohort study will be recruited. The primary objective is to test the efficacy of the app in improving resilience (primary outcome) and well-being (co-primary outcome) compared to a waiting list control group and to examine the stability of these effects. The secondary objectives include testing the efficacy of the app in improving the secondary outcomes, i.e., self-efficacy in managing emotions, problem solving, fear of evaluation, social avoidance, and self-esteem; examining the differential effects of the two components; and assessing the effect of the app on real-life data on resilience, affective states, distress in social interactions and coping strategies. Furthermore, the study will investigate potential moderators (e.g. ACE severity) and mediators of intervention outcomes (e.g. self-efficacy in managing emotions).DiscussionThe results will provide insights into the efficacy of the self-help intervention as well as mediators and moderators of outcomes. Furthermore, results will extend the existing knowledge by testing the differential effects of the SER and SSIP component on the outcomes. Findings can inform improvements to the FACE app and the development of other interventions for this target group and assess its potential as a scalable, low-threshold intervention to support emerging adults with a history of ACE in their transition to adulthood. Trial registration number: NCT05824182.

Social media addiction, escapism and coping strategies are associated with the problematic internet use of adolescents in Türkiye: a multi-center study.

The literature highlighted that problematic internet use can have detrimental consequences on individuals' well-being. Social media addiction, escapism and coping skills are closely related to problematic internet use. However, no study has currently examined the relationship between problematic internet use and social media use, escapism and coping skills. This multicenter cross-sectional designed study evaluated the relationships between problematic internet use and social media addiction, escapism, and coping skills in 508 adolescents (319 female) aged 14-18 years. In order to collect data, sociodemographic data form, Internet Addiction Scale, Social Media Addiction Scale, Escapism Scale and Kidcope Adolescent Version have been used. First, adolescents who scored ≥50 on the Internet Addiction Test were classified as the problematic internet use group; adolescents who scored <50 were classified as the control group. Then, the relationships between problematic internet use and social media addiction, escapism and coping skills were evaluated. The results showed that problematic internet use was associated with duration of social media use, impairment in social media-related functionality, preferring virtual life, and virtual pleasure, escapism, avoidant and negative coping strategies. These findings may provide an empirical basis for problematic internet use prevention and intervention in adolescence.

Internalized stigma: Social support, coping, psychological distress, and mental well-being among older adults in Ghana.

Older adults have been found to internalize stigma from society and this has been linked to several variables including social support, coping, psychological distress, and mental well-being. However, there is a dearth of research on how these variables interact with each other to impact the life of older adults. This study employed path analysis to explore social support and coping as boundary conditions and underlying mechanisms in the link between internalized stigma, psychological distress, and mental well-being, among older adults in Ghana. Using a cross-sectional design, the study recruited 167 older adults who responded to standardized questionnaires including The Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale, Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale, The Brief Coping Inventory, Kessler Distress Scale, and the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, to determine levels of internalized stigma, social support, coping strategies, psychological distress, and mental well-being, respectively. The findings revealed that at low levels of social support, there is a significant and positive correlation between internalized stigma and mental well-being (β = -.36, SE = 0.17, p < .001). Path analysis showed that the relationship between internalized stigma and mental well-being was fully mediated by problem-focused coping (β = .11, p = . 001, 95% CI [0.04, 0.21]), but not psychological distress. Problem-focused coping was also found to have a significant positive correlation with mental well-being but no significant correlation with psychological distress. Conversely, avoidant-focused coping was found to have a significant positive correlation with psychological distress and a significant negative correlation with mental well-being. This study revealed the importance of social support and coping to attaining mental well-being among older adults. This study provides insights into the development of tailored interventions aimed at improving social support and problem-focused coping among older Ghanaian adults facing internalized stigma, and it also establishes a base for future research.

Mediating effect of coping dispositions on the association between trauma and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are two gastrointestinal (GI) conditions known to be exacerbated by traumatic life experiences. One way in which these experiences might influence individuals' susceptibility to GI pathology, is by reducing their ability to deal with adversities effectively and predisposing them to passive coping styles that leave them vulnerable to the somatic effects of trauma. To validate this hypothesis, the present cross-sectional study assessed the mediating effect of coping dispositions on the association between trauma and GI disease activity in an adult sample of 189 bowel patients (94 IBD, 95 IBS) and 92 controls. Results confirmed that GI patients exhibit significantly more cumulative trauma, pervasive feelings of uncontrollability and passive coping strategies than controls. Moreover, the use of passive coping styles was positively associated with the accumulation of trauma and the expression of GI symptoms. Using hierarchical regression and mediation analyses, we found support for the sequential model postulating passive coping styles as (partial) mediators of trauma-induced (GI) disease manifestations. Specifically, out of all coping styles associated with cumulative trauma, behavioural disengagement most powerfully mediated the effect of trauma on GI symptom severity, accounting for 12% (IBD) to 14% (IBS) of its total effect. A somewhat smaller mediating role was observed for social support coping, the reduced reliance on which explained 7% (IBS) to 10% (IBD) of trauma's total effect. Finally, neuroticism acted as a channel through which past traumatization affected subjects' proneness to behavioural disengagement and, consequently, their GI disease activity.

Phenomenological Study of the Experience of Infertility in Romanian Patients: The Female Perspective

The subjective experience of infertility, the emotions, thoughts and problems stated in the patients' narratives show that thepsycho-social impact of infertility is real, and patients need permanent support, the recent qualitative studies suggest. Thepresent paper explores the patients' experiences with a diagnosis of female or male infertility from the perspective ofpatients undergoing IVF to become pregnant. The sample included 17 participants, patients of a private reproductivehealth and fertility clinic in Iasi, Romania. Patients were interviewed based on a semi-structured interview guide to obtaininformation about the infertility experience, from diagnosis to IVF procedures, regardless of the therapeutic approach.The data was enriched through observation notes. The data obtained were analyzed from a qualitative perspective, with aphenomenological approach, to describe and interpret the experience of infertility from the patient's perspective tounderstand and deepen the diagnosis's effect on personal, social and couple life. Six theme clusters emerged from thecollected data related to the perceived definition of maternity, the personal infertility story, the array of identifiedemotions, couple dynamics, perceived social support and coping strategies. The body of literature gives increased interestto the biomedical aspect of infertility. However, its completion with information related to the patient's life context and themeanings attributed to it provides relevant data for therapeutic success.

The protective roles of coping self-efficacy and social support for posttraumatic stress during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study examined the roles of social support and coping self-efficacy (CSE) in attenuating posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic among a nonclinical university student sample. Participants (n = 610; 59% female) completed questionaries assessing psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale) at baseline and 6-month follow-up, and social support (Interpersonal Support Evaluation List-12), CSE Scale, and PTS symptoms (Impact of Event Scale-Revised) at 6 months. A path analysis was conducted using SPSS Amos to examine the direct and indirect pathways from psychological distress to PTS symptoms that are accounted for by social support and CSE, controlling for gender. All direct effects in the path analysis were significant except for the relationship between social support and PTS symptoms. Notably, CSE was directly related to PTS symptoms (CSE: β = -.30, p < .001). There was a significant indirect effect of early psychological distress on PTS symptoms 6 months into the pandemic through social support and CSE (β = .14, p < .001). Individuals with higher levels of social support are more likely to have greater confidence in their coping capabilities, which helps to explain PTS symptom severity after controlling for initial levels of psychological distress and gender. These findings suggest that following a potentially traumatic event, CSE may be one factor to screen for to better identify individuals who are at higher risk for significant psychological difficulties and may benefit from interventions that bolster protective factors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

COVID-19 Linked Social Stigma Among Arab Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Experiences from the Active Phase of the Pandemic.

This study aimed to explore the magnitude and variability of the disease-linked stigma among COVID-19 survivors and their experiences of social stigma, coping strategies, contextual challenges, and preferences for support. An Arabic version of the social stigma survey questionnaire was designed and validated to obtain socio-demographic characteristics and quantitative measures of stigma encountered by the survivors. 482 COVID-19 survivors completed the survey, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. The results of this study revealed the prevalence of high levels of both perceived external stigma and enacted stigma among participants. Enacted and Internalized stigma were associated with survivors' educational background/ status. The participants suggested three levels of support: organizational, social, and personal. Establishing an online stigma reduction program and national psychological crisis interventions at the organizational level. It is crucial to assist coping mechanisms and societal reintegration techniques at the social level. These results provide valuable insights for holistic health policy formation and preparedness strategies for future pandemics, helping survivors promote health and reintegrate into society, where stigma reduction and psychological crisis interventions are underdeveloped.

Factors Affecting the Incidence of Postpartum Blues in Postpartum Women in the Karang Tengah Urban Village Area, Sukabumi City

Aims: This study was to determine the factors that influence the incidence of postpartum blues in postpartum mothers in Karang Tengah Urban Village, Sukabumi City. Methods: Correlational research with cross sectional approach. The study population was all postpartum mothers in Karang Tengah Urban Village, Sukabumi City and a sample of 30 people using purposive sampling technique. Results: There was an effect of social support, coping stress, socioeconomic status, and gender roles on the incidence of postpartum blues in postpartum mothers (p &lt; 0.05). There is a simultaneous influence of social support, coping stress, socioeconomic status, and gender roles on the incidence of postpartum blues in postpartum women (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: Postpartum blues incidence in postpartum mothers in Karang Tengah Urban Village Area of Sukabumi City is influenced by social support, coping stress, socioeconomic status, and gender roles.

Well-being among parents of youth with multiple sclerosis: a preliminary longitudinal study.

In 2021, the annual rate of pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) in Israel among children was 1.5, and 4.5% among youth aged 14-18, out of a total of 5,000 multiple sclerosis cases nationwide. Children diagnosed with POMS often display various deficiencies across psychological, cognitive, sensory, and physical areas. As such, POMS poses significant challenges for parents' well-being, with heightened emotional, financial, and physical strains linked to both the immediate and long-term care requirements of their children. In this preliminary study, we examined changes over three time-points in two measures of well-being: satisfaction with life and psychological distress. In addition, the role of perceived social support (PSS) and coping flexibility was examined through a multilevel causal mediation model which suggested that PSS 1 month post-diagnosis would predict coping flexibility at 6 months post-diagnosis, which in turn would predict parents' life satisfaction and psychological distress at 12 months post-diagnosis. The research was conducted at a tertiary university-affiliated children's hospital in central Israel. Preliminary data were obtained from 36 parents at three times-points. Participants provided demographic information and filled out the following standardized self-report questionnaires: the Diener's Satisfaction with Life Scale, Kessler's inventory for measuring psychological distress (K6), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and the Perceived Ability to Cope with Trauma Scale (PACT) for measuring coping flexibility. Over time (12 months), parents reported stable levels of PSS, coping flexibility, satisfaction with life, and psychological distress. In addition, mothers reported significantly greater PSS from friends than did fathers. Regarding the causal mediation model, greater PSS from friends at T1 was significantly associated with an increase in coping flexibility from T1 to T2. In turn, an increase in coping flexibility was associated with a decrease in psychological distress from T1 to T3 (after controlling for PSS). Yet the causal mediation path via coping flexibility to satisfaction with life was not significant. This preliminary study emphasizes the important role of both PSS and coping flexibility for the well-being of parents whose children are affected by POMS, a subject that merits heightened consideration among healthcare professionals dealing with long-term chronic diseases.