ERIC Number: EJ986337
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Dec
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1053-1890
EISSN: N/A
Coping with Anxiety, Depression, Anger and Aggression: The Mediational Role of Resilience in Adolescents
Ng, Reuben; Ang, Rebecca P.; Ho, Moon-Ho Ringo
Child & Youth Care Forum, v41 n6 p529-546 Dec 2012
Background: The New Freedom Commission on Mental Health urged that mental health services be transformed from a reactive approach of treatment to a proactive one of prevention and building resilience. In response, the present study delineates the role of resilience in reducing psychopathology. Objective: The study examined the mediational role of resilience (positive thinking, tenacity and help-seeking), on the relationship between coping (approach and avoidance) and psychopathology (anxiety, depression, anger and aggression). Methods: Adolescents (n = 719) aged 14-15 completed questionnaires assessing study variables in school settings. Results: Mediation analysis using Structural Equation Modeling found that resilience factors mediated the approach coping-psychopathology relationship but not the avoidance coping-psychopathology relationship. Specifically, "positive thinking" mediated the approach coping-internalizing disorders (anxiety; depression) relationship; "tenacity" mediated the approach coping-aggression link; "help-seeking" mediated both the approach coping-internalizing disorders, and approach coping-externalizing behaviors (anger; aggression) links. Further, strength-of-mediation analysis revealed that help-seeking was a stronger mediator than positive thinking in the approach coping-anxiety relationship. Conclusion: Approach coping works via resilience processes to bring about a decrease in internalizing (anxiety and depression) and externalizing (anger and aggression) conditions. Specific strategies to cope with these aforementioned conditions are: think positive for anxiety and depression; be tenacious when coping with aggression and seek help for anxiety, depression, anger and aggression. These findings lay the groundwork for resilience interventions.
Descriptors: Psychopathology, Health Services, Personality Traits, Mental Health, Adolescents, Questionnaires, Anxiety, Depression (Psychology), Coping, Mental Health Programs, Resilience (Psychology), Prevention, Role, Help Seeking, Aggression, Psychological Patterns, Intervention
Springer. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: service-ny@springer.com; Web site: http://www.springerlink.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A

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