Use Of Specific Coping Strategies Research Articles

Coping with intimate partner violence among young sexual minority men: A qualitative approach

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is prevalent among sexual minority men (SMM) and is associated with a range of adverse health outcomes. While a limited body of research has examined help-seeking and its potential barriers among SMM who have experienced IPV, less research has explored other forms of coping with IPV within this population. Moreover, the contextual factors that inform the use of specific coping strategies and their perceived effectiveness are not well understood. To address this gap in the literature, the present study used a qualitative design with a demographically diverse sample of (n = 25) young sexual minority men (YSMM) to (1) build on current understanding of help-seeking and its potential barriers; (2) identify coping strategies used beyond help-seeking; and (3) explore contextual factors surrounding the use of these strategies. Results indicated that participants used the following strategies to cope with IPV: help-seeking (e.g., informal and formal support), distraction (e.g., substance use, casual sex, and other general distractions), cognitive reappraisal, venting, denial, and avoidance of future relationships. Participants additionally reported several barriers to help-seeking. The narratives that emerged from this study are considered within the scope of the current literature, and implications for research, practice, and policy are discussed.

Key Predictive Factors in the Mental Health of Chinese University Students at Home and Abroad

The prevalence of reported mental health problems among university students has increased at alarming rates in recent years. While various negative life events (from personal events such as relationship breakdowns to more global events such as COVID-19 [SARS-CoV-2] pandemic) have been found to be important predictors of poor mental health in this population, some individuals have been found robustly to fare better than others in confronting such events. Identifying factors that predict these individuals' mental health, along with the specific coping strategies they utilize may have significant practical implications when confronted by adverse events such as COVID-19. This study investigated relationships between the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on 828 (453 females, 374 males, and one "Other") Chinese university students' mental health, and their internal strengths, personality characteristics, and demographic profiles. We also investigated whether students' use of specific coping strategies mediated these relationships. Stepwise multiple regression analyses (MRAs) and a path analysis revealed that students who resided in their home country, had higher levels of internal strengths, a lower level of neuroticism and a higher level of agreeableness and reported fewer negative mental health changes than did other respondents during COVID-19 in the second half of 2020. Self-regulation and withdrawal coping strategies were both important mediators of these relationships. These findings have important implications for universities in identifying and assisting students in the face of adverse events such as COVID-19.

Clarifying the link between anxiety and conspiracy beliefs: A cross-sectional study on the role of coping with stressors

Recent theoretical models view conspiracy beliefs as an individual reaction to threatening experiences, an assumption that is in line with empirical relationships between conspiracy beliefs and feelings of anxiety and distress. The purpose of this study was to examine whether these relationships can be explained by the frequent use of specific coping strategies. In two consecutive online studies (N1 = 589, N2 = 177), anxiety, coping, and conspiracy beliefs were measured using questionnaires (Study 1 and Study 2) as well as a behavior-based measure (Study 2). Conspiracy beliefs were linked to higher levels of dispositional, but not situational anxiety. With respect to coping with stressors, conspiracy beliefs were positively correlated with vigilance and unrelated to avoidance. No moderator or mediator effects of the individual coping style on the relationship between conspiracy beliefs and anxiety were found. These results imply that individuals who endorse conspiracy theories are rather more anxious and less tolerant to ambiguity. Given the weak effect sizes and the focus of the extant models, however, replications should target the links between coping, anxiety and fear.

Daily Associations Between Trauma-Related Mental Contamination and Use of Specific Coping Strategies: Results of a Daily Monitoring Study.

Mental contamination (MC)-a sense of dirtiness experienced without contacting an identifiable pollutant-is a distressing and enduring experience among many survivors of sexual trauma. MC has been linked to more frequent use of avoidant coping behaviors (e.g., washing behavior, substance use, binge eating) and approach coping. However, it is unclear if specific approach and avoidant coping strategies are more consistently related to perseverative experiences of trauma-related MC, if the use of certain strategies predicts changes in MC, and if fluctuations in MC predict the use of certain strategies. The present study evaluated contemporaneous and prospective relationships between sexual trauma-related MC and use of 11 specific coping strategies among 41 women with a history of sexual trauma using an experience sampling design. Women completed twice-daily assessments of coping strategy use and MC for 14 days. Between-persons, women reporting more intense MC on average reported more frequent use of distraction, denial, giving up, self-blame, thought suppression, washing behavior, emotional processing, and emotional expression than those experiencing less intense MC. Within-person increases in MC were associated with more frequent concurrent use of all coping strategies except seeking support. Lastly, within-person increases in MC predicted more frequent use of giving up, substance use, and seeking support at the next assessment and within-person increases in substance use predicted less severe MC at the next assessment. Future work should aim to identify factors influencing the selection and/or quality of use of these specific coping strategies among individuals experiencing MC.

Coping strategies for COVID-19 pandemic-related stress and mental health during pregnancy

BackgroundIncreased stress has likely contributed to the observed high prevalence of depression and anxiety in pregnant individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of coping strategies for COVID-19 pandemic-related stress and associations of these coping strategies with depression and anxiety symptoms during pregnancy. Methods8320 members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California who were pregnant between June 22, 2020 and May 10, 2021 completed an online survey including questions about coping strategies since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and current depression and anxiety symptoms. We used weighted regression to estimate prevalence ratios for moderate/severe depression and anxiety symptom severity associated with coping strategies. ResultsThe most common coping strategies for COVID-19 pandemic-related stress were talking with friends and family (77%), outdoor physical activity (54%), and increasing screen time activities (52%). Exercising using online programs or videos, outdoor physical activity, talking with friends and family, and engaging in more family activities were associated with 29% to 38% lower prevalence of moderate/severe depression symptom severity and 16% to 34% lower prevalence of moderate/severe anxiety symptom severity. LimitationWe are unable to rule out reverse temporality as an explanation for the observed results because of the cross-sectional design; depression or anxiety symptom severity may influence use of specific coping strategies. ConclusionOur results suggest that physical activity and connecting with others are coping strategies for COVID-19 pandemic-related stress that may be associated with better mental health in pregnant individuals.

Examination of the Relationship between Self and Choice of Coping Strategies among U.S. Active Duty Military Wives

Previous research indicates that one’s identity relates to one’s use of specific coping strategies. Exploring the relationship between self and coping in military wives is crucial to understanding how they manage military lifestyle-related stressors. The researchers hypothesized that identity status, self-concept clarity, self-monitoring, mastery, and role conflict will be related to choice of emotion-focused coping or problem-focused coping strategies. Two hundred two participants completed an anonymous online survey containing standardized scales. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analyses revealed that emotion-focused coping had positive relationships with achieved identity status and role conflict. Problem-focused coping had positive relationships with moratorium status, self-concept clarity, self-monitoring, and mastery. Findings provide preliminary support that sense of self is important in understanding how military wives choose to cope with particular challenges.

Does coping reduce suicidal urges in everyday life? Evidence from a daily diary study of adolescent inpatients.

BackgroundYouth suicide has been increasing at an alarming rate. Identifying how youth at risk for suicide cope with daily distress and suicidal thoughts could inform prevention and intervention efforts. We investigated the relationship between previous‐day coping and next‐day suicidal urge intensity in a high‐risk adolescent sample for a 4‐week period. We also investigated the influence of adolescents' average coping levels, over 4 weeks, on daily severity of suicidal urges.MethodsA total of 78 adolescents completed daily diaries after psychiatric hospitalization (n = 1621 observations). Each day, adolescents reported their use of specific coping strategies, overall coping helpfulness, and intensity of suicidal urges.ResultsGreater professional support seeking from providers/crisis lines and perceptions of coping helpfulness on the previous day were associated with lower next‐day suicidal urges. Adolescents who reported greater average use of cognitive strategies, personal support seeking from family/friends, and higher average perceptions of coping helpfulness, relative to others, had lower daily suicidal urges. Noncognitive strategy use was not related to daily suicidal urge intensity.ConclusionFindings point to the benefit of intervention efforts focusing on strengthening personal and professional supportive relationships, assisting youth with developing a broader coping repertoire, and working with adolescents to identify strategies they perceive to be helpful.

COVID-19 Related Daily Stressors, Coping, and Suicidal Ideation in Psychiatrically Hospitalized Youth.

BackgroundGiven reports of the adverse effects of COVID-19 on adolescent mental health, it is critical to understand how it impacts psychiatrically hospitalized youth who may be particularly vulnerable to its effects.ObjectiveThis study aimed to advance our understanding of high-risk adolescents’ experiences of COVID-19, including COVID-19-related stress, changes in daily functioning, and coping as they relate to suicidal ideation (SI).MethodParticipants were 107 youth (ages 11–18; M = 15.06, SD = 1.79) admitted to an adolescent psychiatric inpatient unit during the time when the initial COVID-19 safety measures (i.e., school closure, stay-at-home- order) and reopening initiatives (Phase I, II, and III) were implemented in Rhode Island between March 13th and July 19th 2020. Adolescents completed measures of COVID-19-related stress, coping, functioning, and SI at the time of admission.ResultsNearly half of the sample (43%) reported a negative impact of COVID-19 on daily functioning. Youth who endorsed COVID-19-related decline in functioning evidenced higher levels of SI compared to youth with no change or improvement in functioning due to COVID-19. Overall levels of stress were not associated with SI. Greater coping repertoire, but not the use of specific coping strategies was associated with higher levels of SI.ConclusionsFindings demonstrate the importance of examining COVID-19-related changes in functioning and broadening repertoire of coping strategies among adolescents at high risk for SI.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10566-021-09641-1.

Positive reframing: An important but underutilized coping strategy in youth athletes undergoing sports-related knee surgery.

It is unknown how specific coping strategies are associated with the short-term outcomes among athletes following knee surgery. 1) To determine whether specific coping strategies are associated with satisfaction, return to sport, self-reported knee function, or kinesiophobia following sports-related knee surgery. 2) To determine whether these associations vary by age, sex, or surgical procedure. Case series. Athletes (n=184 total; n=104 men, n=80 women; n=38 age <20 years, n=35 age 20-25, n=36 age 26-31, n=36 age 32-40, n=39 age >40) who underwent outpatient knee surgery were enrolled from a single center. Utilization of specific coping strategies (self-distraction, use of emotional or instrumental support, venting, positive reframing, and acceptance) was assessed pre-operatively with the Brief-COPE inventory. Relationship between coping strategies and post-operative satisfaction, return to sport, International Knee Documentation Committee-subjective (IKDC-S) and Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia scores at median 10.7 months follow-up were determined with consideration for age, sex, and surgical procedure. Return to prior level of sport was 72%, and satisfaction was 86%. Most coping strategies had age-specific utilization rates; positive reframing was utilized least frequently in ages <20 years. Satisfaction increased with greater positive reframing among ages <20 years and decreased with greater self-distraction among men. Return to sport was higher with greater positive reframing in ages <32 years. No coping strategies predicted IKDC-S scores. Greater positive reframing correlated with lower kinesiophobia in ages <20 years. Greater instrumental support correlated with lower kinesiophobia in ages >40 years. No other coping strategies were associated with outcomes. Surgical procedure was not related to association between coping strategies and outcomes. Coping strategies have age-specific associations with outcomes after knee surgery in athletes. Positive reframing is infrequently utilized in younger athletes. Greater use of positive reframing in this group may improve satisfaction, return to sport, and lower fear of re-injury.

How Adolescents Cope with Bullying at School: Exploring Differences Between Pure Victim and Bully-Victim Roles

The aim of the present study was to investigate the use of specific coping strategies by bullied adolescents, taking account of the distinction between pure victims and bully-victims, as well as gender-specific patterns. Participants were 967 adolescents aged 11–16 years, who responded to self-report questionnaires on school bullying victimization, cognitive coping, and situational coping. Adolescents in the pure victim, bully-victim, and noninvolved groups did not differ in their use of approach coping. However, pure victims and bully-victims used more avoidance coping than noninvolved adolescents. Compared with the latter, pure victims reported greater use of avoidance coping strategies such as internalizing and self-blame, while female pure victims also reported greater use of rumination. Both male and female bully-victims were characterized by higher use of blaming others and self-blame strategies, compared with the noninvolved group. In addition, rumination, catastrophizing, cognitive distancing, and externalizing scores were higher for male bully-victims than for either noninvolved participants or pure bullies. Identifying these differing coping strategies may be useful in developing more effective counselling strategies for the victims of bullying.

The role of coping strategies in interpersonal identity development of war-affected immigrant adolescents.

Increasing immigration around the world has affected the lives of children and adolescents. The ability to cope with the stress of migration and adaptation to a new culture likely is an important protective factor for optimal identity development under these conditions. The present study examined the role of coping strategies in interpersonal identity development among immigrant adolescents. The sample consisted of 93 (43% females) first-generation immigrant adolescents who migrated to Turkey due to war in their home countries. They have been living in the suburbs in Ankara and attending regular public schools. A two-wave longitudinal design was employed with a 4-month interval between waves. Identity development was measured using the Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale focusing on the dimensions commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of commitment in the domain of interpersonal relations. The coping strategies problem-solving, social support seeking, and avoidance were assessed with the Coping Strategies Scale. Results showed that none of the identity dimensions significantly predicted the use of specific coping strategies. However, different coping strategies predicted relative change in some identity dimensions. These results are discussed in light of previous findings on associations between identity development and coping strategies in different populations, and the difficulties associated with being an immigrant.

Über den Zusammenhang zwischen Online Hate-Viktimisierung und -Täterschaft

It is well known that victims of violence are more likely than non-victims to be perpetrators, and that perpetrators are more likely than non-perpetrators to be victims. However, the overlap between being the victim of violence and the perpetrator of violence is not well understood when it comes to online hate. An explanatory mechanism in this relationship could potentially be the use of specific coping strategies. We sought to develop a better understanding of the relationship between the victims and the perpetrators of online hate to inform effective intervention and prevention initiatives in the field of media education. Self-report questionnaires on receiving and committing online hate and on technical and assertive coping were completed by 1,480 young people between 12 and 17 years old (M = 14.21 years; SD = 1.68). Results showed that increases in being the recipient of online hate were positively related to being a perpetrator of online hate. Technical and assertive coping strategies were negatively related to perpetrating online hate. Furthermore, victims of online hate reported less instances of perpetrating online hate when they reported higher levels of technical and assertive coping strategies, and more frequent instances of perpetrating online hate when they reported lower levels of technical and assertive coping strategies. In conclusion, our findings suggest that, if they are to be effective, prevention and intervention programs that target online hate should consider educating young people in problem-focused coping strategies.

Religiosity and Resilience: Cognitive Reappraisal and Coping Self-Efficacy Mediate the Link between Religious Coping and Well-Being.

Qualitative evidence points to the engagement of religious coping strategies when facing adversity, and evidence also highlights the effectiveness of cognitive reappraisal in reducing the impact of distressing emotions on well-being. It has been suggested that religious practices could facilitate the use of reappraisal, by promoting reframing of negative cognitions to alter emotional states. However, the link between religiosity and reappraisal in influencing resilience against symptoms of distress is not known. The current study (N = 203) examined connections among these aspects, using self-reported measures of religious coping, habitual use of specific coping strategies (positive reappraisal) and perceived confidence in using coping strategies, as well as questionnaires assessing symptoms of distress (anxiety and depression). Results point to a mediating role of reappraisal and coping self-efficacy as part of mechanisms that provide a protecting role of religious coping against emotional distress. These results provide novel scientific evidence further validating millennia-old traditional coping practices and shed light on psychological factors influencing adaptive behaviors that promote increased resilience, reduce symptoms of distress, and maintain emotional well-being. These findings inform general counseling practices and counseling of religious clients alike.

Linking Maternal Caregiving Burden to Maternal and Child Adjustment: Testing Maternal Coping Strategies as Mediators and Moderators

This study examined the links between maternal caregiving burden and maternal and child adjustment, and whether these links were mediated and moderated by maternal coping strategies. Cross-sectional data were collected from 173 Chinese families with kindergarten aged children with special needs in Hong Kong, China (mean age = 61.53 months; 72% of them were boys). Using questionnaires, mothers rated their caregiving burden, use of different coping strategies, and the adjustment of themselves and their children with special needs. Results demonstrated that maternal caregiving burden was negatively associated with maternal and child adjustment. Moreover, the associations of maternal caregiving burden with maternal life satisfaction and depression were partially mediated by maternal planful problem solving, positive reappraisal, and seeking emotional support, whereas the association between maternal caregiving burden and child prosocial behaviors was partially mediated by maternal positive reappraisal. There was little evidence, however, for the moderating effects of maternal coping strategies. Theoretically, our findings highlighted the role of parental coping in understanding the mechanism through which parental caregiving burden may affect the adjustment of both parents and their children. Practically, our findings pointed to the utility of supporting parents of children with special needs by reducing their caregiving burden and increasing their use of specific coping strategies.

Attachment to God and Psychological Adjustment: God's Responses and Our Coping Strategies.

An outgrowth of research has established an association between attachment to God dimensions and psychosocial indices. There has been a dearth of studies, however, examining variables that mediate these relationships. This study examined three categories of coping strategies (emotion-focused, problem-focused, and dysfunctional) as mediators in the relationship between attachment to God dimensions and psychological adjustment. This study employed a cross-sectional design to examine the association among attachment to God dimensions, coping strategies, and psychological adjustment among 315 undergraduate students at a midsize southeastern university. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Attachment to God Inventory, the Brief COPE, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. Structural equation modeling was used to examine direct and indirect effects. Analyses revealed an indirect influence of secure God attachment on positive affect via emotion-focused coping, as well as an indirect influence of secure God attachment on all three mental health indices-positive and negative affect and depression-via dysfunctional coping. Analyses also revealed an indirect influence of avoidant God attachment on depression and both positive and negative affect via dysfunctional coping, as well as an indirect influence of ambivalent God attachment on depression and both positive and negative affect via dysfunctional coping. Although causality cannot be established, results suggest that attachment to God dimensions are associated with psychological adjustment through the use of specific coping strategies. Future research should employ longitudinal designs in order to identify temporal influences among attachment to God dimensions, coping styles, and psychological indices.

Coping styles and symptomatic manifestation of first-episode psychosis: Focus on cognitive performance

Cognitive deficits are widely observed in patients with psychosis and represent one of most important determinants of functional outcomes. It has been shown that patients with psychosis prefer maladaptive coping strategies over active coping styles. However, it remains unknown whether cognitive impairments are related to coping styles in psychotic disorders. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess whether cognitive deficits observed in patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) might impact the use of specific coping strategies. We recruited 40 FEP patients and 35 healthy controls. In our study, FEP patients were more likely to use maladaptive coping styles after adjustment for education level and medication effects. The use of maladaptive coping strategies was associated with greater impairments of visuospatial/constructional abilities and language skills in FEP patients. In addition, lower odds of using adaptive coping were related to higher levels of depressive symptoms in the group of patients. Adaptive coping was associated with better global cognitive performance in healthy controls. Our results indicate that cognitive impairments, especially worse performance of visuospatial/constructional abilities and language skills, might be related to the preference of maladaptive coping strategies. Lower odds of using adaptive coping styles might be associated with more severe depressive symptomatology.

Using Time-Varying Effect Modeling to Examine Age-Varying Gender Differences in Coping Throughout Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood

PurposeLittle is known about how and when coping trajectories differ between males and females. The current study aimed to examine gender differences in the use of specific coping strategies across developmental ages using time-varying effect modeling (TVEM) in a large, diverse community sample. MethodsA longitudinal study following adolescents across 4 years of high school and 5 years post graduation (N = 1,251) was combined with a nationally representative cross-sectional study of 18- to 22-year-olds (N = 595) to examine changes in gender differences in the use of coping strategies between ages 13 and 25. The same coping questionnaire was administered to both samples. TVEM was used to examine the age-varying prevalence rates of coping in males and females. ResultsGender differences were greatest during middle-to-late adolescence (15–19 years) for active coping, social support seeking, planning, and venting emotions. Females reported greater use of these strategies than males, but males' use increased over time and became equivalent to females after the age of ~19–20. Gender differences in the use of humor did not emerge until the age of 22, at which point the use of humor increased continuously among males but remained stable among females. The use of denial was fairly stable across time, with no gender differences at any age. ConclusionsFindings highlight the utility of TVEM for advancing our knowledge on gender and coping across developmental time, as males and females used coping strategies at differing rates throughout adolescence and emerging adulthood. Implications for tailoring gender- and age-specific intervention efforts to improve coping and related health behaviors are discussed.

Specific coping strategies moderate the link between emotion expression deficits and nonsuicidal self-injury in an inpatient sample of adolescents

BackgroundNon-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a behavior of increasing prevalence in adolescents with links to various negative mental health and adjustment outcomes. Poor emotion expression has been linked with NSSI use, whereas the use of adaptive coping strategies has been identified as a protective factor against NSSI. The current study examined whether specific coping strategies moderate the relation between poor emotion expression and NSSI, and whether moderation is conditional on adolescent gender.MethodsNinety-five adolescents hospitalized on an acute care inpatient psychiatric unit completed questionnaires measuring NSSI, emotion expression and use of specific coping strategies (i.e., problem-focused coping, positive reframing coping, support seeking, avoidance, and distraction).ResultsResults indicated that poor emotion expression was positively associated with NSSI. Positive reframing and support seeking emerged as significant moderators of the poor emotion expression—NSSI link. This result was not conditional upon adolescent gender. Problem-focused coping, avoidance, and distraction did not emerge as significant moderators.ConclusionsEncouraging youth to use particular coping strategies might protect against the negative impact of emotion expression deficits for both boys and girls.

Children’s Coping With Academic Failure

There is little consensus on how to conceptualize coping after perceived failure and less is known about the contextual resources that may support or undermine the use of specific coping strategies. This study examined parenting in relation to coping using the framework of self-determination theory and examined the motivational processes through which parenting, specifically parental structure, autonomy support, and involvement, may be associated with coping. Findings showed that the relations between parental structure and parental autonomy support and defensive coping were mediated by perceived control; however, there were also direct effects of structure and autonomy support, unmediated by this motivational resource. Findings also suggest that parent involvement directly predicts mastery coping.

Psychosocial Stress, Stress Perception and Stress Management of Students of Social Work: a Quantitative Study

In this quantitative study, data on 746 students of social work were collected regarding their current sense of stress, experience of psychosocial drain as well as their use of specific coping strategies. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Trier Inventory of Chronic Stress (TICS) were used. The results show that one out of 3 students suffer from a lot of to extreme stress. One-fourth of the students report feeling overworked and socially overburdened. More than half of the students are exposed to psychosocial drain as a consequence of past events in their biography (e. g. death or mental illness of a close relative). Despite these obvious burdens, only one-fourth made use of professional aid or counseling. Students who are primarily using functional coping strategies have a lower sensibility to stress and feel less overworked than students primarily using dysfunctional coping strategies. In the university setting, the theoretically and empirically sound knowledge based on this report can be used profitably: The increasing implementation of seminars on coping with stress at universities itself suggests that learning and utilizing functional coping strategies can contribute to a reduction of stress and strain among students.