The roles of reinforcement sensitivity and cognitive appraisals in predicting coping strategies

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Ann M. Williams (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Rosemery Nelson-Gray

Abstract: The stress and coping literature has neglected to evaluate fully personality variables in the coping process. The behavioral approach and behavioral inhibition systems may affect cognitive appraisals of stressors and coping responses. This study evaluated young adults' coping strategies from a three-dimensional perspective, including problem-, emotion-, and avoidance-coping forms. It was hypothesized that cognitive appraisals would mediate the relationship between the behavioral approach and inhibition systems and three coping forms. Undergraduate psychology students completed a battery of questionnaires assessing reinforcement sensitivities, cognitive appraisals, and coping behaviors. Regression analyses supported one of the hypotheses, indicating that cognitive appraisals mediate the relationship between the behavioral inhibition system and avoidance-coping behaviors. Exploratory analyses indicated that cognitive appraisals do not moderate the relationship between the systems and the three coping forms. However, sex served as a moderator in the relationship between the behavioral approach system and problem-focused coping behaviors. These results provide support for personality variables and sex in the coping process.

Additional Information

Publication
Dissertation
Language: English
Date: 2012
Keywords
Cognitive appraisals, Coping, Personality
Subjects
Stress in adolescence
Adjustment (Psychology) in adolescence
Personality and cognition

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