Stress-related Coping Research Articles

A long and resilient life: the role of coping strategies and variability in their use in lifespan among women

ABSTRACT Objectives Associations of stress-related coping strategies with lifespan among the general population are understudied. Coping strategies are characterized as being either adaptive or maladaptive, but it is unknown the degree to which variability in tailoring their implementation to different contexts may influence lifespan. Method Women (N = 54,353; Mage = 47) completed a validated coping inventory and reported covariate information in 2001. Eight individual coping strategies (e.g., Acceptance, Denial) were considered separately. Using a standard deviation-based algorithm, participants were also classified as having lower, moderate, or greater variability in their use of these strategies. Deaths were ascertained until 2019. Accelerated failure time models estimated percent changes and 95% confidence intervals (CI) in predicted lifespan associated with coping predictors. Results In multivariable models, most adaptive and maladaptive strategies were associated with longer and shorter lifespans, respectively (e.g., per 1-SD increase: Active Coping = 4.09%, 95%CI = 1.83%, 6.41%; Behavioral Disengagement = −6.56%, 95%CI = −8.37%, −4.72%). Moderate and greater (versus lower) variability levels were similarly and significantly related to 8-10% longer lifespans. Associations were similar across age, racial/ethnic, residential income, and marital status subgroups. Conclusions Findings confirm the adaptive and maladaptive nature of specific coping strategies, and further suggest benefits from both moderate and greater variability in their use for lifespan among women.

Psychologic Welfare and Burnout of Medical Students after COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown in Poland

Abstract Objectives: In this study, we intended to examine the psychological welfare, burnout, and stress-related coping mechanisms of medical students at the Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland. Under the hypothesis that depressive symptoms and screening for problem alcohol drinking would predict the risk of burnout, we intended to study the relationship between selected variables (e.g., demographic and socioeconomic) and burnout risk and the effects of abandonment of social isolation restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Methods: Medical students completed an online survey assessing general mental health and stress coping mechanisms. We used copies of the Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item (PHQ-9); Cut-down, Annoyed, Guilty, and Eye-opener (CAGE) questionnaire; and the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI), to quantify depressive symptoms, screen for problematic alcohol drinking, and assess the risk of burnout. Results: The mean total OLBI score ± standard deviation was 44.6 ± 7.3 (N = 700), with 91.1% of participants scoring ≥ 35 points. Female students had significantly higher total and exhaustion domain OLBI scores than their male counterparts (p < 0.05). About 76% of all respondents reported high levels of studies-related stress and 44% of survey participants agreed/strongly agreed that they considered dropping out of university courses due to the stress. The suicidal/self-harm ideations were found in 33.6% of students. Most students (64.4%) were screened positively for moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms, and 19% of them for risky alcohol use. Students with OLBI scores ≥ 35 achieved notably higher PHQ-9 and CAGE results. The results of multivariate regression analysis showed that PHQ-9 (p < 0.05) and CAGE (p < 0.05) questionnaire significantly predicted the OLBI score. Conclusion: Medical students are a vulnerable group at risk of developing mental health problems. A great number of survey participants screened positively for the presence of depressive symptoms, risky alcohol use, and burnout. The PHQ-9, and CAGE results, was significant predictor of OLBI outcomes. The improvement of COVID-19 pandemic-related social isolation restrictions did not produce a marked improvement in somatic/mental health-related quantifiers as compared to the time of strict social restrictions.

Are coping strategies and variability in their use associated with lifespan?

ObjectivesSome stress-related coping strategies contribute to survival among medical populations, but it is unclear if they relate to longevity in the general population. While coping strategies are characterized as being adaptive or maladaptive, whether capacity to tailor their implementation to different contexts (i.e., flexibility of use) may influence lifespan is unknown. MethodIn 2004–2006, participants from the Midlife Development in the United States study completed a validated coping inventory including 6 strategies and provided information on sociodemographics, health status, and biobehavioral factors (N = 4398). Deaths were ascertained from death registries with follow-up until 2018. Accelerated failure time models estimated percent changes and 95% confidence intervals (CI) in predicted lifespan associated with use of individual coping strategies. As a proxy for flexibility, participants were also classified as having lower, moderate, or greater variability in strategies used, using a standard deviation-based algorithm. ResultsAfter controlling for sociodemographics and health status, maladaptive strategies (e.g., per 1-SD increase in Denial = −5.50, 95%CI = −10.50, −0.21) but not adaptive strategies (e.g., Planning) were related to shorter lifespan. Greater versus moderate variability levels were related to a 15% shorter lifespan. Estimates were somewhat attenuated when further controlling for lifestyle factors. ConclusionAlthough most associations were of modest magnitude, use of some maladaptive coping strategies appeared related to shorter lifespan. Compared to moderate levels, greater coping variability levels were also clearly detrimental for lifespan. Although adaptive strategies were unrelated to longevity, future work should examine other favorable strategies (e.g., acceptance) and more direct measures of flexibility (e.g., experience sampling methods).

Dopamine receptor activation elicits a possible stress-related coping behavior in a wild-caught songbird.

Animals experience stress throughout their lives and exhibit both physiological and behavioral responses to cope with it. The stress response can become harmful when prolonged and increasing evidence suggests that dopamine plays a critical role in extinguishing the stress response. In particular, activation of the D2 dopamine receptor reduces glucocorticoids and increases coping behavior, i.e., behavioral responses to adverse stimuli that reduce the harmful effects of stress. However, few studies have examined the effects of dopamine on the stress responses of wild species. We therefore tested the hypothesis that activation of the D2 dopamine receptor influences coping-like behavior in a wild-caught species. We recorded behavior of house sparrows (Passer domesticus) before and after they received injections of D2 dopamine agonists, D2 dopamine antagonists, or saline. House sparrows are common in urban environments and understanding how they cope with stress may help us better understand how animals cope with urban stressors. We found that the birds significantly increased biting of inanimate objects after the agonist but there was no change following the antagonist or saline. The biting of inanimate objects may be a mechanism of behavioral coping. This change in biting behavior was not correlated with general movement. This study supports the hypothesis that D2 dopamine receptor activation is involved in the regulation of the stress response in a wild bird.

Faith and FACES: Black Parents’ Perceptions of Autism, Faith, and Coping

Faith, spirituality, and religious involvement can promote stress-related coping for parents raising children with autism, yet little research has explored religious coping in Black parents raising children with autism. Given the high levels of religiosity and increased incidence of autism in Black families, the purpose of this qualitative study was to highlight perceptions of Black parents raising children with autism on mental health and religious coping within the context of a parent advocacy intervention efficacy study. We used a grounded theory method with structural coding of group session transcripts and written responses to center the voices of seven Black parents raising children with autism. Three significant findings emerged: (a) mental health conceptualization; (b) double disenfranchisement; and (c) communal coping.

The impact of stress management training on stress-related coping strategies and self-efficacy in hemodialysis patients: a randomized controlled clinical trial

IntroductionDialysis causes many psychological and social problems, such as stress and inefficiency in patients, which should be considered in health promotion interventions. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the impact of stress management training on stress coping strategies and the self-efficacy of these patients in southeastern Iran.MethodsThis quasi-experimental study was a randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on hemodialysis patients from December 2019 to January 2020. Patients who met inclusion criteria were selected with the convenience sampling method and divided into the two groups of intervention (n = 30) and control (n = 30) by using the block randomization method. Participants in the intervention group were trained in a stress management training program in 8 one-and-a-half-hour sessions, held twice a week. Data were measured with stress coping strategies and general self-efficacy questionnaires before, immediately, and 1 month after the intervention. SPSS18 was used for data analysis.ResultsThe study results showed that the scores of stress coping strategies and the self-efficacy score in all their dimensions were significantly different between the intervention and control groups (P < 0.001).ConclusionThe present study results showed that stress management training programs promoted stress coping strategies and self-efficacy in hemodialysis patients. Health planners and nurses are recommended to use these easy, feasible, and inexpensive interventions to reduce stress and increase self-efficacy.Trial registration Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT): IRCT20160914029817N10. Date of registration: October 7, 2021. URL: https://en.irct.ir/trial/58540. Registration timing: a retrospective.

Alcohol consumption during COVID-19 pandemic: What have we learnt so far?

IntroductionThe current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has many implications, one of them being alcohol consumption. The impact of long-term distancing measures in terms of alcohol use and misuse is yet unknown. Any increase, would not only add to the usual disease burden associated with alcohol, but also add to the COVID-19 load, given that alcohol use may weaken the immune response.ObjectivesTo characterize and compare the pattern of alcohol consumption throughout the pandemic in patients with the diagnosis of Alcohol Use Disorder; to identify factors considered as most relevant in the increase of alcohol consumption.MethodsWe conducted a observational study in an outpatient population in Centro Hospitalar Psiquiátrico de Lisboa (Portugal) with diagnosis of Alcohol Use Disorder, 6 months after the pandemic lockdown. We characterized our sample regarding social, demographic and clinical categories. We applied auto-filled questionnaires, particularly: Mental Health Inventory (MHI), Positive Mental Health Scale (PMHS) and Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ-C).ResultsA total of 65 patients were included. More than 30% changed their drinking habits because of the pandemic. Nearly half of these increased consumption, and half decreased (16% vs 14%). The increase affected particularly men, and was related with the severity of alcohol dependence, stress-related coping strategies and psycopathology; on the other hand, a lowered level of consumption based on the decrease of alcohol accessability and affordability.ConclusionsThe current situation is unique in terms of mass physical distancing and may trigger different behaviours that should be monitored. Governments should give public health warning about excessive alcohol consumption to protect vulnerable individuals.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Modifiable risk factors for burnout in vascular surgery trainees

ObjectiveBurnout is prevalent among vascular surgery trainees. Here we aim to identify modifiable risk factors for burnout in vascular surgery training, to facilitate the development of programs to enhance and sustain trainee well-being. MethodsThe Association of Program Directors in Vascular Surgery issued the Annual Training survey in the fall of 2018 to all trainees. The survey contained items to assess frequency of burnout, as well as mentorship, training environment, and stress coping mechanisms using an abbreviated COPE (Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced) inventory. ResultsOf 628 surveys issued, the response rate was 30% (n = 188). Respondents indicated that the majority of programs offer mentorship opportunities (n = 150 [83%]) that are longitudinal throughout the duration of training (n = 140 [77%]). Fifty-eight percent (n = 109) indicated there was an appropriate balance between learning and productivity in their program, with more respondents leaning toward too much clinical productivity (n = 57) and fewer toward too much learning (n = 19). Forty-five percent of respondents indicated feeling burnout at least weekly (n = 81). The burnout group was less likely to report an appropriate balance between clinical productivity and learning (49.4% vs 67.7%; P < .001), as well as a lower frequency of mentorship opportunities (72.1% vs 92.7%; P < .001). Certain coping skills were used more frequently in the burnout group, including self-distraction, disengagement, humor, self-blame, and substance use. In multivariate analysis, frequent use of self-blame conferred a 9.847-fold increased risk (95% confidence interval, 2.114-45.871) of burnout (P = .003), while feeling appropriately challenged by the faculty was significantly protective (odds ratio for burnout, 0.158; 95% confidence interval, 0.031-0.820; P = .03). ConclusionsThe protective effect against vascular surgery trainee burnout conferred by the availability of mentorship suggests that an expansion and emphasis on mentorship in training may help to mitigate trainee burnout. Mentorship may also be a suitable channel to assess for an appropriate level of challenge, as well as for an appropriate balance between clinical productivity and learning that, when present, are also protective against burnout. Furthermore, the correlation between the frequent use of certain coping skills and burnout highlight this as an area for intervention, potentially through a combination of mentor modeling and formal training on healthy stress-related coping strategies.

Stress-related coping styles, anxiety, and neuroticism in university students with myalgia temporomandibular: A case control study.

Los pacientes que sufren dolor debido a trastornos temporomandibulares (TTM) presentan mayores niveles de distrés psicológico, estrés ambiental, síntomas somáticos, ansiedad, depression, cogniciones de catastrofización, y otras estrategias de afrontamiento al dolor alteradas, comparados con personas libres de dolor. Sin embargo, poco se conoce acerca de los factores psicológicos involucrados en diferentes tipos de TTM. Además, independientemente de la gravedad o el tipo de TTM, el papel de los estilos y estrategias de afrontamiento al estrés en los TTM todavía no está claro. El principal objetivo de este trabajo es estudiar los estilos de afrontamiento al estrés, ansiedad y rasgos de personalidad en un grupo de estudiantes de odontología que sufren mialgia temporomandibular. Una muestra de 102 estudiantes universitarios fue incialmente reclutada para este estudio. Tras una evaluación clínica, se formaron un grupo de estudiantes con mialgia (24 participantes) y un grupo de estudiantes control (24 participantes). Los participantes de ambos grupos fueron posteriormente evaluados en ansiedad, estrategias de afrontamiento al estrés, y rasgos de personalidad. El grupo con myalgia mostró mayor rasgo de ansiedad y neuroticismo que el grupo control. Los participantes con myalgia también mostaron un mayor uso de estrategias de afrontamiento evitativas. Las estrategias evitativas generalmente se han considerado como desadaptativas, y se ha visto que incrementan el estrés percibido, un fuerte predictor de TTM.

Alcohol Consumption Reported during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Initial Stage.

Physical health is not the only area affected by the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic. There are also other consequences that have globally affected many millions at other levels, namely: Societal, political, economic, and cultural. This study aims to survey alcohol drinking throughout the pandemic so as to investigate those factors considered most relevant; i.e., sociodemographic and clinical. A longitudinal study was designed. The first (or initial) stage was completed between April 10–20 2020 on 443 subjects during the enforcement of the “Lockdown” in Poland. The second stage will be due in June 2020. As well as an in-house questionnaire, the study used: The Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and the Brief COPE Inventory (Mini COPE). Alcohol was the most commonly used psychoactive substance (73%) identified. More than 30% changed their drinking habits because of the pandemic, with 16% actually drinking less, whilst 14% did so more. The former group was significantly younger than the latter. Amongst the stress-related coping strategies, it was found that current alcohol drinkers were significantly less able to find anything positive about the pandemic situation (positive reframing) and were mentally less able to cope. Those drinking more now were found to have been drinking more intensively before the pandemic started.

Romantic relationship breakup: An experimental model to study effects of stress on depression (-like) symptoms.

The occurrence of a stressful event is considered to increase the risk of developing depression. In the present study we explore whether the breakup of a romantic relationship can be used as an experimental model to study a depression-like state during a period of stress in individuals without a psychiatric disorder. The primary aim of our study was to investigate: 1) whether individuals with a recent romantic relationship breakup (‘‘heartbreak”) demonstrate symptoms of depression, 2) how to describe heartbreak characteristics based on data from a comprehensive questionnaire battery, and 3) whether this description can capture severity of depression symptoms. Secondary, we were interested in gender differences with regard to the above study objectives. Subjects who have experienced a relationship breakup in the preceding six months (N = 71) or are in a romantic relationship (N = 46) participated in our study. A questionnaire battery was administered to acquire information related to depression, mood, the breakup and (former) relationship. Principal Component Analysis with Procrustes bootstrapping was performed to extract components from the questionnaire data. Even though our sample of individuals who recently have experienced a relationship breakup can be on average considered non-depressed, group-level depression scores were elevated compared to individuals in a relationship (p = .001) and 26.8% reported symptoms corresponding to mild, moderate or severe depression. We described heartbreak by two principal components interpreted as ‘‘sudden loss” and ‘‘lack of positive affect”, respectively. Highly significant correlations between the component scores and depression scores were found (p < .001 and p < .001, respectively), although these correlations differed between the genders. Based on these findings, we propose that the experience of a romantic relationship breakup is a viable experimental model to examine symptoms of depression in individuals without a psychiatric disorder. This way, stress-related coping and depression vulnerability can be studied in further research.

Developmental expression of anxiety and depressive behaviours after prenatal predator exposure and early life homecage enhancement

Stressful events during gestation can have sex-specific effects on brain and behaviour, and may contribute to some of the differences observed in adult stress responding and psychopathology. We investigated the impact of a novel repeated prenatal psychological stress (prenatal predator exposure – PPS) during the last week of gestation in rats on offspring behaviours related to social interaction (play behaviour), open field test (OFT), forced swim test (FST) and sucrose preference test (SP) during the juvenile period and in adulthood. We further examined the role of postnatal environmental, using an enhanced housing condition (EHC), to prevent/rescue any changes. Some effects on anxiety, anhedonia, and stress-related coping behaviours (e.g., OFT, SP and OFT) did not emerge until adulthood. PPS increased OFT anxiety behaviours in adult males, and some OFT and SP behaviours in adult females. Contrary to this, EHC had few independent effects; most were apparent only when combined with PPS. In keeping with age-group differences, juvenile behaviours did not necessarily predict the same adult behaviours although juvenile OFT rearing and freezing, and juvenile FST immobility did predict adult FST immobility and sucrose preference, suggesting that some aspects of depressive behaviours may emerge early and predict adult vulnerability or coping behaviours. Together, these results suggest an important, though complex, role for early life psychological stressors and early life behaviours in creating an adult vulnerability to anxiety or depressive disorders and that environmental factors further modulate the effects of the prenatal stressors.

The relationship between educational stress, stress coping, self-esteem, social support, and health status among nursing students in Turkey: A structural equation modeling approach

BackgroundNursing education can be a stressful experience. To fully benefit from this experience and develop a positive professional identity, it is essential for nursing students to effectively cope with education-related stress. PurposeThe aim of the study was to investigate the relationships between nursing students' education-related stress and stress coping, self-esteem, social support, and health status. MethodThis study utilized a cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational design. The sample consisted 517 nursing students from a bachelor program in Turkey during the 2014–2015 academic year. Participants provided data on sociodemographic characteristics as well as completing the following instruments: Nursing Education Stress Scale, Coping Behavior Inventory for Nursing Students, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and General Health Questionnaire. Relationships were examined using multivariate structural equation modeling. ResultsResults indicated that nursing students' stress coping levels were affected by self-esteem and social support. Additionally, this interaction appears to affect general health status. Although the direct effect of stress on coping was non-significant, its overall effect was significant within the model. ConclusionIt is necessary to conduct further intervention studies examining the role of self-esteem and social support in facilitating nursing students' stress-related coping during their education.

Re-work: a new Japanese support system for reinstatement

Re-work is a new treatment technique that follows the conventional Japanese approach, which includes rest and pharmacotherapy. The aim of re-work is to prevent repeated sick leave by helping individuals reflect on the reasons behind the sick leave and improve stress-related coping skills. Re-work participants prepare in an environment similar to their workplaces at a medical institution or a specialised public facility for several months before returning to work. As re-work is undertaken via group work, this has benefits beyond those which can be achieved by an individual alone. The reinstatement effects of re-work are now starting to be verified. Issues of interest for re-work include its unified concept-based programme, and the need to further verify its clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness.

Long-Term Physical Health Consequences of Adverse Childhood Experiences

This study examined associations between adverse childhood family experiences and adult physical health using data from 52,250 U.S. adults aged 18 to 64 from the 2009 to 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. We found that experiencing childhood physical, verbal, or sexual abuse, witnessing parental domestic violence, experiencing parental divorce, and living with someone who was depressed, abused drugs or alcohol, or who had been incarcerated were associated with one or more of the following health outcomes: self-rated health, functional limitations, diabetes, and heart attack. Adult socioeconomic status and poor mental health and health behaviors significantly mediated several of these associations. The results of this study highlight the importance of family-based adverse childhood experiences on adult health outcomes and suggest that adult socioeconomic status (SES) and stress-related coping behaviors may be crucial links between trauma in the childhood home and adult health.

Overeating, late dinner, and perceived stress in Japanese workers

This study examined relationships among overeating at dinner, dinner time, perceived stress, and strategies for coping with stress among Japanese workers. In December 2012, 255 male Japanese workers at a leasing company completed a questionnaire about overeating (score range: 5-20), dinner time, perceived stress, and strategies for coping with stress. Each worker was sent an email with a link to a website, where their answers were collected. Relationships among overeating, dinner time, perceived stress, and stress-related coping strategies were investigated using two-way analysis of variance. The analyses of cross-sectional data revealed no differences in the overeating scores among those who ate dinner before 21:00 according to their level of perceived stress. However, those who ate dinner after 21:00 and reported feeling stressed tended to overeat at dinner (F(1, 237)=5.62, p=0.019). Additionally, those with perceived stress engaged in emotional expression involving others, and those without perceived stress tended to seek help to solve their problems and change their mood. We found no significant interactions involving the items related to strategies for coping with stress. This study found that overeating at dinner was related to dinner time and perceived stress. Additionally, the combination of a late dinner time and perceived stress reinforced overeating at dinner. The results of this study do not identify a coping strategy to prevent overeating.

The moderating role of an oxytocin receptor gene polymorphism in the relation between unsupportive social interactions and coping profiles: implications for depression.

Oxytocin is a hormone that is thought to influence prosocial behaviors and may be important in modulating responses to both positive and negative social interactions. Indeed, a single nucleotide polymorphism, rs53576, of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) has been associated with decreased trust, empathy, optimism, and social support seeking, which are important components of coping with stressors. In the current study, conducted among undergraduate students (N = 225), it was shown that parental and peer social support was related to fewer depressive symptoms through elevated problem-focused coping and lower emotion-focused coping, and these effects were independent of the OXTR polymorphism. Unsupportive social interactions from parents were associated with more severe depressive symptoms through the greater use of emotion-focused coping, and this relation was moderated by the OXTR genotype. Specifically, individuals who carried the polymorphism on one or both of their alleles demonstrated increased emotion-focused coping following unsupportive responses compared to those without the polymorphism. Likewise, lower problem-focused coping mediated the relation between parental and peer unsupportive responses to depressive symptoms, but this mediated relation was only evident among carriers of the polymorphism. These findings suggest that carrying this OXTR polymorphism might favor disadvantageous coping styles in the face of negative social interactions, which in turn are linked to poor mood. Regardless of genotype, parental, and peer social support are fundamental in determining stress-related coping and well-being.

Association of stress coping strategies with Internet addiction in college students: The moderating effect of depression

BackgroundThis study examined the association between stress-related coping strategies and Internet addiction and the moderating effect of depression in a sample of Taiwanese college students. MethodA total of 500 college students (238 men and 262 women) participated in this study. Internet addiction was assessed using the Chen Internet Addiction Scale. Participants’ stress coping strategies and depressive symptoms were measured using the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced and the Beck Depression Inventory-II, respectively. We used t and chi-square tests to examine differences in demographic characteristics, depression, and stress coping strategies between participants with and without Internet addiction. Significant variables were used in a logistic regression model to examine the association between stress coping strategies and Internet addiction and the moderating effect of depression on the association. ResultsResults indicated that use of restraint coping was negatively associated with Internet addiction (odds ratio [OR]=0.886, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.802–0.977), whereas denial (OR=1.177, 95% CI: 1.029–1.346) and mental disengagement (OR=2.673, 95% CI: 1.499–4.767) were positively associated with Internet addiction. Depression had a moderating effect on the association between denial and Internet addiction (OR=0.701, 95% CI: 0.530–0.927). ConclusionsStress coping strategies and depression are important factors to evaluate when developing intervention programs targeting college undergraduate students with Internet addiction.

Burnout risk among first-year teacher students: The roles of personality and motivation

The present study identified individual variables by which first-year teacher students' risk for burnout can be detected at an early stage. We analyzed a sample of teacher students (n=559) and a control group of psychology students (n=150) by using multinomial logistic regression analyses. We estimated the impact of personality (Five-Factor model) and motivation for choosing teacher education on work-related coping behavior and experiences (WCEP types: healthy-ambitious, unambitious, excessively-ambitious, and risk for burnout). Neuroticism and the extrinsic motivation of choosing teacher education (the assumed low difficulty of studies) were risk factors for unhealthy, stress-related coping behavior and experiences. In contrast, high levels of extraversion and conscientiousness as well as intrinsic motivation for choosing teacher education (subject-specific interest) were related to healthy-ambitious behavior. Relations of personality and stress-related WCEP types were partially moderated according to field of study (teaching versus psychology). Our results are of particular importance for improving counseling programs that advise prospective teacher students regarding their individual fit to the requirements and challenges of the teaching profession and for correcting false expectations about study demands.

Applying a Distress-Deterring Approach to Examine How Emotional Support Predicts Perceived Stress and Stress-Related Coping Response

Drawing from a distress-deterring perspective, this study used structural equation modeling to investigate whether college students' perceived emotional support indirectly led to reduced stress, greater adaptive coping response, and healthier behavior through problem-solving confidence (PSC). Results showed that the association between emotional support and lower levels of perceived stress, more general adaptive coping response, and reduced alcohol consumption was fully mediated by PSC. This suggests that researchers and health practitioners should seek to isolate the types of supportive messages that will most likely elicit greater self-confidence. Overall, given the possibility that emotional support operates as an indirect inhibitor of stress and maladaptive behaviors, the university community should promote to all students the value of interpersonal resources for achieving more self-confidence and emotional stability.