Abstract
The objectives of the present study were to develop the University Life Implicit Association Test (IAT) and to explore the role of implicit and explicit attitudes in the sequential model of future-oriented coping and adjustment to university life. One hundred forty-one freshman students completed the Future-Oriented Coping Inventory, the University Life IAT, the University Attitude Questionnaire, and the College Adaptation Questionnaire. The results indicated that implicit attitudes predicted university adaptation. Moreover, model comparison validated the sequential model of future-oriented coping (Hu and Gan 2011), in which explicit attitudes serve as a mediator in the first stage when proactive coping is active and implicit attitudes serve as a mediator in the second stage when preventive coping plays a role.
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Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (project no. 31070913). We would like to express our appreciation to Prof. Bill von Hippel of the University of Queensland for his assistance in designing the SC-IAT program.
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Appendix
Appendix
Target and attribute stimuli used in the University Life-IAT
Target phrases:
Final examination, scholarship selection, qualification for graduate study, term paper, application to study aboard, course internship, presentation in class, registration for TOEFL, library study, student associations, class activity, student elections
Attribute words:
Positive: attractive, visionary, dreaming, favorite, joyful, interesting, wonderful, inspiring
Negative: disgusting, tiresome, meaningless, tedious, abhorrent, painful, indifferent, distressing
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Gan, Y., Zheng, W. & Wen, Y. The Sequential Model of Future-Oriented Coping and Adjustment to University Life: The Role of Attitudes as Further Evidence. Psychol Rec 64, 13–20 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40732-014-0024-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40732-014-0024-0