Abstract
Developmental change in the impact of stressful life events and coping styles were assessed among Israeli preadolescent and adolescent boys. A school sample completed a questionnaire tapping emotionally, cognitively, and practically oriented styles of coping, along with a life event survey. Teachers reported on behavior and adjustment. Analyses revealed that coping among preadolescent males was relatively undifferentiated and of limited efficacy. The transition to adolescence saw an increased qualitative differentiation of emotionally from practically or cognitively oriented coping styles, as well as quantitatively greater use of cognitively oriented coping. Further, cognitively and practically oriented coping served as effective foils to the adverse effects of stress, whereas emotionally oriented coping was counterproductive. Discussion focused on the possible contribution of cognitive growth to coping, as well as the relative utility of adult models for the study of coping in young populations.
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Received doctorate in educational psychology from University of California, Los Angeles. Current research interests include stress and coping across the life span, social sources of adolescent self-esteem, and intergroup relations in the junior high school.
Received doctorate in clinical psychology from Hebrew University. Research interests include social and emotional development in children and adolescents.
Received doctorate from Groningen University. Research interests include longitudinal studies of health and well-being in normal families and those with mentally ill members.
Received master's degree in clinical child psychology from Bar-Ilan University. Research interests are in family relations and socioemotional development.
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Hoffman, M.A., Levy-Shiff, R., Sohlberg, S.C. et al. The impact of stress and coping: Developmental changes in the transition to adolescence. J Youth Adolescence 21, 451–469 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537897
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537897