The impact of accommodative coping on well-being in childhood and adolescence: Longitudinal findings. (September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thomsen, Tamara; Fritz, Viktoria; Mößle, Regine; Greve, Werner
• Other Names: Kiuru Noona guest-editor.; Nurmi Jari-Erik guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: International journal of behavioral development. Volume 39:Number 5(2015:Sep.)
• Page Start: 467
• Page End: 476
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Subjects: accommodative coping -- longitudinal study -- moderating effects -- stress -- well-being; Developmental psychology -- Periodicals; Behaviorism (Psychology) -- Periodicals; 150
• DOI: 10.1177/0165025414551762
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-0254

Abstract

Coping research has consistently shown that accommodative coping is positively correlated with individuals' health. Until now, however, there have been little to no studies on the prognostic impact of accommodative coping on health, and only a few studies investigating its buffering effect on the relation between stress and health in childhood and adolescence. Thus, two main research questions were tracked in two longitudinal studies: Study 1 investigated if accommodative coping is indeed a functional resource that longitudinally predicts well-being in a sample of N = 403 adolescents (aged 12–15 years at Wave 1). Study 2 examined the function of accommodative coping under stressful conditions by investigating its buffering effect on the negative impact of school-related stress on well-being in a sample of N = 86 children (aged 9–12 years at Wave 1). Study 1 revealed accommodative coping longitudinally predicting well-being, and, conversely, there was no prediction of well-being through accommodative coping over time. Study 2 revealed a significant moderating effect and gives a first indication that accommodative coping buffers the negative impact of school-related stress on well-being in childhood. The results indicate that accommodation is a functional coping resource in adolescence that diminishes the negative impact of specific stressors. All main and further results are discussed, and implications for further research are given.