Date of Submission

2016

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Psychology

Department Chair

Robert A DiTomasso, PhD, ABPP, Chair, Department of Psychology

First Advisor

Beverly White, PsyD, Chairperson

Second Advisor

Stephen R Poteau, PhD

Third Advisor

Kevin C O'Leary, PsyD

Abstract

The current study investigated the relationship between self-efficacy, resilience, perceived parental rearing and the use of adaptive or maladaptive coping strategies. The Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (Brief COPE; Carver, 1997) was used to assess participant's coping styles. The General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES; Schwarzer & Jerusalem, 1995) was utilized to assess a participant’s self-efficacy. The Brief Resilience Scale (BRS, Smith et al., 2008) was used to measure resilience, and the Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ; Buri (1991) was used to assess perceived parental rearing. A between-subjects design with two multiple regressions was used to evaluate the relationship between these factors. One hundred and twenty nine participants participated in the study. Results of the study found that participants who reported low self-efficacy, low self-esteem and low resilience utilized maladaptive coping strategies. Results, however, did not support the idea that perceived authoritarian or permissive parental rearing influenced maladaptive coping. Additionally, results did not support the hypothesis that high self-efficacy, high self-esteem, high resilience or perceived authoritative parental rearing resulted in adaptive coping. Findings from this study highlight the need for interventions aimed at increasing individuals’ self-efficacy, self-esteem and resilience in order to aid individuals in using more adaptive coping strategies. Findings from this study also highlight the difficulties that arise when attempting to dichotomize coping; they also highlight the need for future research to examine specific stressors and look qualitatively at how individuals deal with those specific stressors.

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