Citation

Cotta A, Frydenberg E, Poole C. Australian Educational and Developmental Psychologist 2000; 17(2): 103-116.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000)

DOI

10.1017/S0816512200028182

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of a coping skills program "The Best of Coping" on adolescents' coping style and self-efficacy and highlights a model of program delivery through the collaboration of school staff and a school psychologist Eighty-eight adolescents were recruited from a Melbourne suburb and divided into treatment and control groups, with the treatment group receiving the program. All participants completed the Adolescent Coping Scale and Perceived Control of Internal States questionnaires prior to and after the program was conducted.

RESULTS showed significant decreases in nonproductive coping and increases in self-efficacy for the treatment group postprogram and a trend indicating increases in productive coping. The findings are discussed with regard to the need to implement programs that can teach adolescents optimism and problem-solving skills so that they may handle problems and stressors more effectively. With the increase in depression and suicide rates, the need to provide school based programs is discussed, with particular emphasis placed on program implementation by collaboration of the school psychologist with teachers. © 2000, Australian Psychological Society. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Adolescence; Coping; Prevention