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The structure and function of coping in emerging adults

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Abstract

Although coping plays an important role in human adaptation, surprisingly little is known about coping processes in emerging adults. This study examined the structure and function of coping in emerging adults. Using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), this study examined whether there is support for the ‘coping families’ framework, as outlined by Skinner and colleagues (Skinner et al. Psychological Bulletin, 129(2), 216-269 2003). A total of 425 individuals (63.5% female), aged 18–31 years (M age 25.04 years), were recruited online through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk) to complete questionnaires on demographic information, mental health, substance use behaviors, competence, and coping behaviors in response to an interpersonal problem. EFA results yielded partial support for the coping families approach in that support-seeking and problem-solving emerged as robust factors. Further, bivariate correlations suggested that coping behaviors previously associated with adaptive functioning were linked with well-being and competence, whereas coping behaviors previously associated with maladaptive functioning were significantly associated with negative outcomes.

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Notes

  1. Despite creating an age limit of 30 years in MTurk, one participant reported an age of 31 years and was retained in this sample.

  2. Fit Statistics for the 2- and 3-factor models are not presented here because they indicated poorer fit relative to 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-factor models.

  3. The seven coping factors identified in this EFA will hereafter be referred to as Support-Seeking, Problem-Solving, Cognitive Restructuring, Rumination, Concealment, Wishful Thinking, and Avoidance to distinguish them from related constructs.

  4. Cronbach’s alpha values are only reported for the three factors that consisted of three or more items; bivariate correlations are reported for factors that consisted of two items.

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    Virginia Peisch & Keith B. Burt

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Peisch, V., Burt, K.B. The structure and function of coping in emerging adults. Curr Psychol 41, 4802–4814 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-00990-z

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