Patterns of children's coping with life stress: implications for clinicians

Coping strategies of school-going adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic in the climate vulnerable Manafwa watershed, Uganda

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted daily life, economies, and health, prompting strict government measures, including nationwide lockdowns and school closures in Uganda, resulting in significant academic setbacks for adolescents. The coping strategies employed by school-going adolescents in Uganda amidst the COVID-19 pandemic remain inadequately understood. This study aimed to assess the coping strategies adopted by school-going adolescents (early, middle and late adolescents) in the Manafwa watershed, recognized as one of Uganda's most vulnerable regions, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

A cross sectional study design was conducted from I5th May, 2023 to 30th June, 2023 on 762 school going adolescents from government-aided secondary schools within the Manafwa watershed area. The adolescent version of the KidCope tool was used to evaluate adolescents' coping strategies. Factor analysis identified correlations among adolescents' coping strategies. Independent Samples t-Test and One-Way Variance of Analysis (ANOVA) was used for comparing the mean score differences of the coping strategies among the gender and adolescents' stages respectively.

RESULTS

Majority (n = 141, 36.2%) of the participants employed adaptive coping followed by negative-emotion coping (n = 127, 32.6%) and avoidant coping (n = 122, 31.3%). Females employed statistically higher resignation as a coping strategy compared to males, (mean of 1.2 vs. 1.0, respectively; P = 0.026). A higher proportion (n = 88, 69.3%) of middle age adolescents employed negative-emotion regulation (P-value = 0.040). However, those in early adolescence significantly utilized distraction as a coping strategy more than those in middle adolescence (mean difference = 0.36, p = 0.013).

CONCLUSION

During the pandemic, majority of school-going adolescents employed adaptive coping mechanisms, including positive emotional regulation and social support. However, compared to males, females employed resignation more frequently. Moreover, middle-aged adolescents had a greater propensity for negative emotion copying. Findings from this study contribute valuable information for the development of targeted interventions and support mechanisms for adolescents facing unprecedented challenges.

Reflections on resilience

Resilience research has long sought to understand how factors at the child, family, school, community, and societal levels shape adaptation in the face of adversities such as poverty and war. In this article we reflect on three themes that may prove to be useful for future resilience research. First is the idea that mental and physical health can sometimes diverge, even in response to the same social process. A better understanding of explanations for this divergence will have both theoretical and public health implications when it comes to efforts to promote resilience. Second is that more recent models of stress suggest that stress can accelerate aging. Thus, we suggest that research on resilience may need to also consider how resilience strategies may need to be developed in an accelerated fashion to be effective. Third, we suggest that if psychological resilience interventions can be conducted in conjunction with efforts to enact system-level changes targeted at adversities, this may synergize the impact that any single intervention can have, creating a more coordinated and effective set of approaches for promoting resilience in young people who confront adversity in life.

From acute stress to persistent post-concussion symptoms: The role of parental accommodation and child's coping strategies

Background: Acute stress following mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) is highly prevalent and associated with Persistent Post-Concussion symptoms (PPCS). However, the mechanism mediating this relationship is understudied. Objective: To examine whether parental accommodation (i.e. parents' attempts to adjust the environment to the child's difficulties) and child's coping strategies mediate the association between acute stress and PPCS in children following mTBI. Method: Participants were 58 children aged 8-16 who sustained a mTBI and their parents. Children's acute stress (one-week post-injury) and coping strategies (three weeks post-injury), and parental accommodation (three weeks and four months post-injury) were assessed. Outcome measures included PPCS (four months post-injury) and neuropsychological tests of cognitive functioning (attention and memory). A baseline for PPCS was obtained by a retrospective report of pre-injury symptoms immediately after the injury. Results: Children's acute stress and negative coping strategies (escape-oriented coping strategies) and four-months parental accommodation were significantly related to PPCS. Acute stress predicted PPCS and attention and memory performance. Parental accommodation significantly mediated the association between acute stress and PPCS. Conclusions: Stress plays an important role in children's recovery from mTBI and PPCS. Parental accommodation mediates this relationship, and thus, clinical attention to parental reactions during recovery is needed.

Online support seeking, co-rumination, and mental health in adolescent girls

Introduction

Adolescents frequently use informal support seeking to cope with stress and worries. Past research in face-to-face contexts has shown that the relationship between informal support seeking and mental health is influenced by the specific strategy used and the mode through which support is sought. To date, little research has considered the relationship between support seeking online and adolescent mental health.

Methods

In this study, structural equation modeling (SEM) examined the mediating role of co-rumination in the relationships between seeking support from friends or online and two measures of mental health: depression and anxiety. Participants were 186 adolescent girls, drawn from four independent girls' schools in Sydney, Australia. Four brief vignettes described common social stressors and participants rated their likelihood of seeking support from close friends and from informal online sources. Co-rumination was measured using a short form of the Co-rumination Questionnaire and depression and anxiety were measured with the youth version of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-Youth (DASS-Y).

Results

Different patterns of findings were found for support seeking from close friends and support seeking online. First, support seeking from friends was related to lower levels of depression and anxiety while seeking support online was related to higher levels depression and anxiety. Second, co-rumination suppressed the relationship between seeking support from friends and depression, but not online support seeking and depression or anxiety.

Discussion

These findings suggest that co-rumination reduces the benefits of seeking support from friends but is unrelated to online support seeking. The findings also confirm the problematic nature of online support seeking for adolescent girls' mental health, particularly in response to social stressors.

"Sometimes I Feel Grateful…": Experiences of the Adolescent Siblings of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Malaysia

Sibling relationships remain understudied in typically developing adolescents who have siblings with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study explored the lived experiences and perceptions of adolescents who have a brother or a sister with a diagnosis of ASD using semi-structured interviews. Using thematic analysis, the participants reported having difficulties communicating with their siblings. Feeling a mixture of emotions was common when interacting with their siblings with ASD and emotional self-regulation was a typical coping strategy utilized by these adolescents. Despite the challenges, having a sibling with ASD led to closer relationships between the siblings. These findings offer insights into these adolescents' needs and how they may be best supported, informing the practice of speech-language pathology and other health professions.

Coping strategies among children and adolescents: validity and reliability of the Arabic version of the Kidcope scale

Coping strategies adopted by children and adolescents play a crucial role in their mental health. This study aimed to develop the Arabic version of the Kidcope, assess its psychometric properties, and examine age and gender differences in the use of coping strategies by children and adolescents. A total of 800 children and adolescents siblings of patients with type 1 Diabetes mellitus completed the Kidcope scale. The developed Arabic Kidcope was checked for its construct validity, reliability, reproducibility, and confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Age and gender differences in coping styles utilization were assessed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and student t tests. Kidcope chid version yielded a three factors model by exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Overall, the 15-items revealed good internal consistency, Cronbach's alpha (0.89), and an intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.82. EFA identified a two-factor solution for adolescents' Kidcope version. Overall, the 11-items showed acceptable internal consistency, Cronbach's alpha (0.74), and satisfactory (ICC) of 0.84. For both versions, the CFA supported the yielded factors models with good model fit indices. Developmental age changes were apparent for problem-solving, emotional regulation, and distraction coping strategies, and girls showed an enhanced use of adaptive strategies (problem-solving, social support). The Arabic Kidcope version is a reliable and valid tool to measure coping strategies used by children and adolescents.

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The Kidcope is applied in different languages aside from Arabic.

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The Arabic version of the Kidcope is reliable and valid.

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The three and two-factor structures of the Kidcope were confirmed.

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The study explores age and gender differences in coping strategies utilization.

Kidcope and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Understanding High School Students' Coping and Emotional Well-Being

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in social isolation, grief, and loss among many adolescents. As the pandemic continues to impact individuals and communities across the globe, it is critical to address the psychological well-being of youths. More studies are needed to understand the effective ways adolescents cope with pandemic-related psychological distress. In this study, 146 students from 1 high school in a U.S. midwestern state completed an adapted version of Kidcope, a widely used coping instrument in disaster research, and measures were taken on generalized distress and COVID-19-related worries. Findings indicated that most students experienced COVID-19-related fears and general emotional distress. Additionally, we found that disengagement coping strategies were associated with lower general distress (p ≤ 0.05) and COVID-19 worries (p ≤ 0.10). Active coping was not associated with general distress and COVID-19 worries. Overall, our findings highlight the need to develop tailored interventions targeting youth coping strategies to reduce and prevent emotional distress and amplify healthy coping skills as the pandemic persists.

Gender differences in perceived stress and coping among college students

Background

Many college students register each semester for courses, leading to productive careers and fulfilled lives. During this time, the students have to manage many stressors stemming from academic, personal, and, sometimes, work lives. Students, who lack appropriate stress management skills, may find it difficult to balance these responsibilities.

Objectives

This study examined stress, coping mechanisms, and gender differences in undergraduate students towards the end of the semester.

Design and method

University students (n = 448) enrolled in three different undergraduate exercise science courses were assessed. Two instruments, the Perceived Stress Scale and Brief Cope, were administered during the twelfth week of the semester, four weeks prior to final exams. T-tests were used to detect gender differences for the stress levels and coping strategies.

Results

Overall, females indicated higher levels of stress than their male counterparts. Gender differences were evident in both coping dimensions and individual coping strategies used. Females were found to utilize the emotion-focused coping dimension and endorsed the use of four coping strategies more often than males. These included self-distraction, emotional support, instrumental support, and venting.

Conclusions

This research adds to the existing literature by illuminating the level of perceived stress and different coping strategies used by undergraduate female and male students. In turn, students may need educational interventions to develop effective and healthy coping strategies to last a lifetime. Faculty and other university officials may want to highlight and understand these various factors to protect the students’ wellbeing in their classes.

Coping in Children and Adolescents with a Genetic Muscle Disorder -Findings from a Population-Based Study

BACKGROUND

The impact of genetic muscle disorders on quality of life in affected children are well-documented. However, few studies have investigated children's coping strategies and relationships between coping and quality of life.

OBJECTIVES

To determine coping strategy use, efficacy, and associations with quality of life in children with a genetic muscle disorder.

METHODS

Forty-eight children (6-15 years, 58%male) with a genetic muscle disorder were identified as part of a national prevalence study. Children completed the Kidcope in response to a specific stressor (doctors visits) and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Neuromuscular Module.

RESULTS

'Wishful thinking' (75%, 36/48) and 'cognitive restructuring' (71%, 34/48) were the most frequently used coping strategies. 'Self-criticism' (12%, 6/48), and blaming others' and 'resignation' (both 19%, 9/48) were the least used strategies. Coping strategy use did not differ across age andsex groups (p's from 0.08 to 1.00). Positive coping strategies tended to be more effective (medians from 2.00 to 2.75) than negative strategies (medians ranged from 1.38 to 2.50). Using a greater number of different types of positive (F(4, 46) = 5.79, p = 0.001) and/or negative (F(4, 44) = 5.64, p 0.001) coping strategies was linked to poorer health-related quality of life.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that children with genetic muscle disorders use a wide range of positive and/or negative coping strategies in response to stressors associated with a doctor visit and may benefit from greater support to improve health-related quality of life. Findings support the value of routine screening of children's coping to identify those who would benefit from support.

Linking autonomic nervous system reactivity with sleep in adolescence: Sex as a moderator

The purpose of the present study was to investigate relations between autonomic nervous system (ANS) reactivity across the parasympathetic and sympathetic branches and multiple sleep parameters in adolescence. Participants were 244 adolescents (Mage  = 15.79 years old, SD = 9.56 months; 67.2% White/European-American, 32.8% Black/African-American). Parasympathetic activity was indexed by respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) withdrawal and sympathetic activity was indexed by skin conductance level reactivity (SCL-r), which were examined in response to a laboratory-based stressor (star-tracing task). Sleep was assessed with actigraphs in adolescents' homes for seven consecutive nights. Two sleep parameters were examined: sleep duration indexed by actual sleep minutes and sleep quality indexed by sleep efficiency from sleep onset to wake time. Regression analyses showed that more RSA withdrawal (lower RSA during task than baseline) was associated with shorter sleep, and more SCL-r (higher SCL during task than baseline) was associated with poorer sleep efficiency. Moderation analyses showed that associations linking RSA withdrawal with fewer sleep minutes and poorer sleep efficiency, and SCL-r with fewer sleep minutes were significant only for boys. Results illustrate that higher daytime physiological reactivity (increased RSA withdrawal and SCL-r) is negatively associated with sleep duration and efficiency for adolescents, especially boys.

Depression in Children and Adolescents on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: Associations with Resilience and Prosocial Behavior

Depression in children and adolescents has become a serious public health problem worldwide. The objectives of this study were twofold: first, to investigate the status of depression among children and adolescents on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the highest plateau in the world, with an average altitude of more than 4200 m (13,776 feet), and second, to examine the associations among prosocial behavior, resilience, and depression. A cross-sectional study was conducted among children and adolescents from Yushu Prefecture on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. A total of 11,160 participants aged 10–17 years (M_age = 14.34 years, SD = 1.77; 51.4% girls) were included. Self-reported depression, resilience, and prosocial behavior were assessed. The prevalence of depression was 29.2% in the current study. Higher levels of prosocial behavior were significantly associated with lower levels of depression (β = −0.25, p < 0.001). Furthermore, resilience significantly moderated the relationship between prosocial behavior and depression (β = −0.08, p < 0.001); that is, resilience enhanced the protective role of prosocial behavior in depression. These findings indicate that resilience may play an important role in the associations between prosocial behavior and depression, which suggests that improving resilience is essential for the prevention and intervention of depression among children and adolescents on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Examining the Phenomenon of Resilience in Schools

Abstract. School resilience refers to positive adaptation despite experiences of significant school-related stressors. We conducted two studies focusing on the development and validation of a new measure of school resilience – the School Resilience Scale (SRS): Study 1 involved Grade 8 students ( n = 1,159) and Study 2 involved Grade 8 and Grade 9 students ( n = 190) in Singapore. The results of both studies suggest that the SRS comprised one second-order factor underpinned by four first-order factors, which correspond to resilience in relation to stressors emanating from academics, family, teachers, and peers. This factor structure was found invariant across gender and Socio-Economic Status (SES). The SRS had satisfactory 2-month and 3-month test–retest reliability. In Study 1, school resilience was found to be a significant positive predictor of the adaptive dimensions of academic motivation but did not serve as a significant predictor of amotivation. In Study 2, school resilience was found to be a positive predictor of academic achievement and life satisfaction but a negative predictor of depressive symptoms. These results held even after controlling for students’ gender and SES, as well as general resilience. Our findings demonstrate the potential of SRS as a comprehensive and valid measure of subjective school resilience for adolescents.

The developmental origins of ruminative response style: An integrative review

Rumination has been conceptualized as a stable, trait-level response style involving repetitive and passive focus on the symptoms of distress and the possible causes and consequences of those symptoms. This theoretical review examines developmental risk factors of ruminative response style, incorporating a developmental psychopathology perspective. A model integrating these developmental factors within a conceptual framework is proposed, wherein risk factors for distress (i.e., temperamental negative affectivity, stressful environments, parenting, and genetic vulnerability) lead to engagement in rumination. We propose that when rumination is well-practiced, it will consolidate into a trait-like response style, especially among adolescents who experience cognitive control deficits. Reciprocal relationships and moderators that may contribute to the formation of a ruminative response style are also included. To understand how these factors converge and influence the formation of ruminative response styles, we review patterns of stability and change in physical and cognitive development to demonstrate that individual differences in rumination may emerge and consolidate into enduring, trait-level response styles during early adolescence.

The Role of Effortful Control in Stuttering Severity in Children: Replication Study

Background In 2014, Kraft et al. assessed the temperament, home environment, and significant life events of 69 North American children who stutter to examine the combined and compounded effects of these individualized factors on mediating overt stuttering severity. The temperament domain of effortful control was singularly found to be significantly predictive of stuttering severity. Purpose Because of the clinical significance of the initial study's findings, a replication study with a different, larger cohort of children who stutter was warranted to validate the reported outcomes. Method The current study assesses 98 children who stutter, ages 2;4 to 12;6 (years; months, M = 6;7), recruited from Perth, Australia. Results The results support the previous findings of Kraft, Ambrose, and Chon (2014) , with effortful control remaining the sole significant contributor to variability in stuttering severity, as rated by both parents and clinicians. Conclusion These cumulative and consistent outcomes support the need to develop targeted intervention strategies that specifically strengthen aspects of effortful control as a means to support positive therapeutic change in children who stutter.

Siblings' experiences of growing up with children with autism in Taiwan and the United Kingdom

BACKGROUND

A child's diagnosis of autism impacts their whole family, in both positive and negative ways, that may be influenced by cultural beliefs.

AIMS

We aimed to describe the experiences of mothers and typically-developing siblings of children with autism in two cultural contexts.

METHODS

Fourteen mother-sibling dyads from Taiwan and the UK participated in semi-structured interviews.

RESULTS

Whilst there were similarities in sibling experiences, a negative tone regarding the influence of autism was more evident in Taiwan, where families also cited societal judgement and cultural-specific expectations. In the UK, a more balanced tone was apparent: mothers emphasised educating and involving the siblings. It is speculated that UK siblings had a greater understanding of their parents' stress, leading to more adaptive family dynamics. Various types of support service were mentioned in the UK, whereas the availability of social services and support appeared to be relatively limited in Taiwan.

IMPLICATIONS

Our data suggest that cultural context may have a significant impact on the responses of the family members. This is mediated by both differences in attitudes and traditions, and availability of resources. Support for family members needs to be sensitive to such cultural differences, as well as recognising positive experiences.

The role of emotional reactions and retrospective assessment of parental attitudes in controlling destructive strategies for coping with a social conflict situation by junior high school students

Background

The purpose of our study was to search for the emotional and family aetiology of destructive strategies (aggression, avoidance, submission) for coping with a social conflict situation by adolescents.

Participants and procedure

The questionnaire (KSMK) by Borecka-Biernat to study the strategies for coping with a social conflict situation by adolescents, the Three-Factor State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (TISCO) by Spielberger and Wrześniewski, as well as the Parental Attitudes Scale (SPR) by Plopa were applied in the research. The empirical research was carried out in junior high schools in Wroclaw and neighbouring towns. It covered 493 adolescents (269 girls and 224 boys) aged 13-15 years.

Results

According to the results of this study, interpersonal competence predicts perceived social support and self-esteem, and perceived social support predicts self-esteem. Perceived social support, which is the main focus of the research, plays a partial mediation role in the relationship between interpersonal competence and self-esteem.

Conclusions

The research result analysis revealed an interesting finding, i.e. few negative emotions and parental upbringing attitudes differentiated adolescents who applied aggression strategies from the ones who used strategies of avoidance and submission in a social conflict situation. This means that adolescents who use strategies of avoidance and submission in a social conflict situation are relatively homogeneous in the scope of the emotional and family variables researched.

The regulation of emotions in adolescents: Age differences and emotion-specific patterns

Two experiments addressed the issue of age-related differences and emotion-specific patterns in emotion regulation during adolescence. Experiment 1 examined emotion-specific patterns in the effectiveness of reappraisal and distraction strategies in 14-year-old adolescents (N = 50). Adolescents were instructed to answer spontaneously or to downregulate their responses by using either distraction or cognitive reappraisal strategies before viewing negative pictures and were asked to rate their emotional state after picture presentation. Results showed that reappraisal effectiveness was modulated by emotional content but distraction was not. Reappraisal was more effective than distraction at regulating fear or anxiety (threat-related pictures) but was similar to distraction regarding other emotions. Using the same paradigm, Experiment 2 examined in 12-year-old (N = 56), 13-year-old (N = 49) and 15-year-old adolescents (N = 54) the age-related differences a) in the effectiveness of reappraisal and distraction when implemented and b) in the everyday use of regulation strategies using the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. Results revealed that regulation effectiveness was equivalent for both strategies in 12-year-olds, whereas a large improvement in reappraisal effectiveness was observed in 13- and 15-year-olds. No age differences were observed in the reported use of reappraisal, but older adolescents less frequently reported using distraction and more frequently reported using the rumination strategy. Taken together, these experiments provide new findings regarding the use and the effectiveness of cognitive regulation strategies during adolescence in terms of age differences and emotion specificity.

Geschlechts- und situationsspezifische Stressverarbeitung und Lebensqualität bei Kindern und Jugendlichen

Zusammenfassung. In der vorliegenden Studie sollten insbesondere die wenigen Befunde zum alleinigen Einfluss der Art der Belastungssituation und dessen kombinierte Einflüsse mit dem Geschlecht auf die Stressverarbeitung erweitert werden. Hierfür bearbeiteten N = 1 087 Kinder und Jugendliche im Alter zwischen 7 und 16 Jahren den Stressverarbeitungsfragebogen für Kinder und Jugendliche (SVF-KJ). Darüber hinaus wurde die Vorhersagekraft der situationsspezifischen Stressverarbeitung auf die gesundheitsbezogene Lebensqualität an einer Teilstichprobe von N = 442 Kindern und Jugendlichen zwischen 9 und 16 Jahren untersucht. Die alleinigen Situationseinflüsse sprechen für erhöhte Ausprägungen in der Ablenkung, Situationskontrolle und Aggression für soziale Belastungssituationen. Mädchen verarbeiteten vor allem soziale Belastungssituationen ungünstig. Die Stressverarbeitung konnte die gesundheitsbezogene Lebensqualität unter Kontrolle des Alters, Geschlechts, chronischer Erkrankungen und der psychischen Stressreaktivität signifikant vorhersagen. Die Befunde unterstützen erneut, geschlechtssensible, altersangepasste Gesundheitsförderprogramme im Kindes- und Jugendalter zu implementieren, die insbesondere die Bagatellisierung, positiven Selbstinstruktionen, Vermeidung und Resignation modifizieren sollten.

Unlocking the Black Box: A Multilevel Analysis of Preadolescent Children's Coping

This random assignment experimental study examined the intersection of children's coping and physiologic stress reactivity and recovery patterns in a sample of preadolescent boys and girls. A sample of 82 fourth-grade and fifth-grade (M_age = 10.59 years old) child-parent dyads participated in the present study. Children participated in the Trier Social Stress Test and were randomly assigned to one of two post-Trier Social Stress Test experimental coping conditions-behavioral distraction or cognitive avoidance. Children's characteristic ways of coping were examined as moderators of the effect of experimental coping condition on cortisol reactivity and recovery patterns. Multilevel modeling analyses indicated that children's characteristic coping and experimental coping condition interacted to predict differential cortisol recovery patterns. Children who characteristically engaged in primary control engagement coping strategies were able to more quickly down-regulate salivary cortisol when primed to distract themselves than when primed to avoid, and vice versa. The opposite pattern was true for characteristic disengagement coping in the context of coping condition, suggesting that regulatory fit between children's characteristic ways of coping and cues from their coping environment may lead to more and less adaptive physiologic recovery profiles. This study provides some of the first evidence that coping "gets under the skin" and that children's characteristic ways of coping may constrain or enhance a child's ability to make use of environmental coping resources.

The role of self-assessment and emotions in designation of an aggressive strategy of coping with a social conflict situation by gymnasium school students

<b>Background, participants and procedure </b><br /> This research is aimed at evaluation of the role of self-assessment and emotions in designation of an aggressive strategy of coping with a social conflict situation by gymnasium school students. It uses a questionnaire to study strategies adopted by youth to cope with a social conflict situation (KSMK), Self-Esteem Scale (SES) and a Three-Factor Personality States and Traits Inventory (TISCO) questionnaire. The empirical study was conducted in gymnasium schools in Wrocław and neighbouring localities. It included 811 adolescents (414 girls and 397 boys) aged 13-15. <br /> <b>Results and conclusions</b><br /> Based on the analysis of the collected research material, it is concluded that low assessment of teenagers’ own capacity plays a role in choosing an aggressive strategy to cope with a social conflict situation. Participation of adolescents in a situation of a threat to accomplishment of their own objectives intensifies negative emotions. Research results confirm that aggression is a form of dealing with anger and fear felt in a social conflict situation.

Contributions of maternal emotional functioning to socialization of coping

This study examined whether maternal emotional functioning-emotional awareness and depression-guides the coping suggestions mothers make to their children in the context of a common childhood stressor (peer victimization). Across two waves of a longitudinal study, 330 mothers and their second graders (mean age (M) = 7.95 years, SD = .33; 158 boys and 172 girls) completed questionnaires. Emotional awareness predicted more primary control engagement suggestions (directly addressing stress or emotions). Depression predicted fewer cognitive restructuring suggestions (thinking positively) and more cognitive avoidance suggestions (orienting thoughts away from stress). Interactive effects between maternal emotional functioning and child sex also emerged. This study elucidates the impact of mothers' emotional functioning on how they teach their children to cope with stress.

Gender-specific factors of suicide ideation among adolescents in the Republic of Korea: a nationally representative population-based study

The purposes of this study are to explore the differences in the rates of suicide ideation (SI) between male and female youths, and to investigate gender-specific factors strongly associated with SI. This study analyzed nationally representative secondary data, the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey collected over a 3 year period (2007-2009) (N=2358; youths aged 12-18 years). Significant differences in characteristics between adolescents with and without SI were analyzed using either t-test or chi-square test. After adjusting for demographics (i.e., age, monthly household income, and family intactness), gender-specific factors associated with SI were examined using multivariate logistic regression. Current research reveals that (a) the prevalence of SI is higher among female adolescents than among their male counterparts, (b) depression and stress are strong factors in both males and females, and (c) psychological counseling and experimentation with smoking and drinking are strong factors among females only. Different factors influencing SI between males and females should be considered when identifying youths at risk for SI and providing targeted interventions.

Multidimensional perceptual unfolding of coping behaviors: a developmental perspective on preference assessment

The purpose of the current study was to study grade level and gender differences in coping behaviors among Chinese students using a multidimensional scaling (MDS) single-ideal point model. In contrast to approaches that utilize the aggregated scores such as average scores, the MDS single-ideal point model makes use of individual items in a well-constructed coping instrument to examine typical coping behaviors preferred by adolescents of different grade levels and gender. The results revealed that college students developed a set of more specific coping responses than the middle school students. Moreover, college male students used more coping responses than the college female students. The article discusses the processes and issues in analyzing developmental differences via MDS single-ideal point models from the developmental perspective.

Coping skills and mental health status in adolescents when a parent has cancer: a multicenter and multi-perspective study

OBJECTIVE

Parental cancer increases the risk of psychosocial problems in adolescents. We investigated the frequency and efficacy of adolescents' coping strategies and relationships between those strategies and mental health status. Age and gender differences regarding coping and mental health were also investigated.

METHODS

In total, 214 adolescents from 167 families participated in a cross-sectional, multicenter study. All participants were recruited from standard oncological care. Among the participants, 52% utilized a child-centered intervention program. Adolescents' coping skills were measured using KIDCOPE. Mental health status was rated by adolescents and parents by the SDQ for symptomatology and the KIDSCREEN for well-being.

RESULTS

We found that 29% of the adolescents showed emotional and behavioral problems. We found gender differences in mental health status but not in coping. Adolescents used a broad spectrum of coping strategies. Active problem-solving, distraction, acceptance, wishful thinking and seeking social support were the most frequently used coping strategies. The utilization of certain coping skills was mediated by their perceived efficacy. Problem-focused or approach-oriented coping strategies generally are associated with better mental health, while avoidance-oriented coping are associated with worse mental health. Emotion-focused coping was associated with both lower and higher mental health.

CONCLUSION

The strategies used by adolescents to cope with parental cancer are associated with their mental health. Problem-solving and approach-oriented coping strategies should be facilitated by psychological interventions regardless of age and gender. Age and gender differences in adolescents' mental health should be further investigated because these differences are not explained by differences in coping strategies.

Parental palliative cancer: psychosocial adjustment and health-related quality of life in adolescents participating in a German family counselling service

BACKGROUND

Parental palliative disease is a family affair, however adolescent's well-being and coping are still rarely considered. The objectives of this paper were a) to identify differences in psychosocial adjustment and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among adolescents and young adults with parents suffering from palliative cancer or cancers in other disease stages, b) to relate psychosocial adjustment and health-related quality of life to adolescent coping, and c) to explore significant mediator and predictor variables.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data were derived from a multi-site research study of families before child-centered counselling. N=86 adolescents and young adults were included, their mean age 13.78 years (sd 2.45), 56% being female. Performed analyses included ANCOVA, multiple linear regression, and mediation analysis.

RESULTS

Adolescents with parents suffering from palliative cancers reported significantly less total psychosocial problems, and better overall HRQoL. There were no significant group differences regarding coping frequency and efficacy. Our set of coping items significantly mediated the effect of parental disease stage on psychosocial problems and HRQoL. Further, parental disease status and general family functioning predicted psychosocial problems (R2adj =.390) and HRQoL (R2adj =.239) best.

CONCLUSION

The study indicates distress among adolescents throughout the entire parental disease process. Our analysis suggests that counselling services could offer supportive interventions which focus particularly on adolescent coping as well as family functioning.

The relationship of coping behaviors to depressive symptoms in youth with epilepsy: an examination of caregiver and youth proxy report

Study aims were to explore evaluation and comparison of measures of coping and the relationship of epilepsy-specific coping responses to depressive symptoms in youth with epilepsy (YWE). Seventy-six YWE ages 9-17 completed the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) and the Kidcope. Sixty-six caregivers reported on youth coping (CHIC) and seizure activity. Epilepsy variables were abstracted from electronic medical records. There were no significant correlations between the CHIC coping factors and individual Kidcope scores. Only one CHIC factor, "competence/optimism," was significantly negatively correlated with CDI. Regression analyses revealed a significant association between CDI and negative coping (Kidcope) after adjusting for sex, number of AEDs, and seizure severity. On the CDI, 27% of YWE endorsed suicidal ideation. Findings provide preliminary support for use of the Kidcope as a measure of negative epilepsy-specific coping. These results imply that youth coping and suicidal ideation are important to assess in relation to depressive symptoms and that youth report of these symptoms is particularly salient to the evaluation of youth functioning.

Coping strategies as a predictor of post-concussive symptoms in children with mild traumatic brain injury versus mild orthopedic injury

This study examined whether children's coping strategies are related to post-concussive symptoms following mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) versus orthopedic injury (OI). Participants were 8- to 15-year-old children with mild TBI (n = 167) or OI (n = 84). They rated their current preferred coping strategies and post-injury symptoms at 2 weeks (baseline) and 1, 3, and 12 months post-injury. Children's reported use of coping strategies did not vary significantly over time, so their baseline coping ratings were examined as predictors of post-concussive symptoms across time. Self-ratings of symptoms were positively related to emotion-focused strategies and negatively related to problem-focused engagement after both mild TBI and OI. Higher problem-focused disengagement predicted larger group differences in children's ratings of symptoms, suggesting that problem-focused disengagement moderates the effects of mild TBI. Coping strategies collectively accounted for approximately 10-15% of the variance in children's post-concussive symptoms over time. The findings suggest that coping may play an important role in accounting for children's perceptions of post-concussive symptoms after mild TBI.

Review: The development of coping across childhood and adolescence: An integrative review and critique of research

Despite consensus that development shapes every aspect of coping, studies of age differences in coping have proven difficult to integrate, primarily because they examine largely unselected age groups, and utilize overlapping coping categories. A developmental framework was used to organize 58 studies of coping involving over 250 age comparisons or correlations with age. The framework was based on (1) conceptualizations of coping as regulation to suggest ages at which coping should show developmental shifts (Skinner & Zimmer-Gembeck, 2009), and (2) notions of hierarchical families to clarify which coping categories should be distinguished at each age (Skinner, Edge, Altman, & Sherwood, 2003). Developmental patterns in coping (e.g., problem-solving, distraction, support-seeking, escape) were scrutinized with a focus on common age shifts. Two kinds of age trends were discerned, one reflecting increases in coping capacities, as seen in support-seeking (from reliance on adults to more self-reliance), problem-solving (from instrumental action to planful problem-solving), and distraction (adding cognitive to behavioural strategies); and one reflecting improvements in the deployment of different coping strategies according to which ones are most effective in dealing with specific kinds of stressors. Results were used to formulate guidelines for future research on the development of coping.