Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-03T00:00:22.605Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Adolescent coping: differences in the styles and strategies used by learning disabled compared to non learning disabled adolescents

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 February 2012

Gregory Lloyd Cheshire  and
Marilyn Anne Campbell
Gregory Lloyd Cheshire*
Affiliation:
Southport State High School, Queensland
Marilyn Anne Campbell*
Affiliation:
Gold Coast North School Support Centre
*
Southport State High School, PO Box 1726, Southport Qld 4215
Southport State High School, PO Box 1726, Southport Qld 4215
Get access

Abstract

This study compared the coping strategies and styles of 30 learning disabled adolescents with 30 non learning disabled adolescents matched in age, gender and ethnicity from a large urban high school in Queensland. Results showed that the learning disabled adolescents use some different coping styles and strategies to their non learning disabled peers. The learning disabled group showed less tendency to relax, or work to achieve goals. They tended not to focus on the positive and not to attempt to solve problems. Rather they exhibited a higher tendency to use wishful thinking and believed that they could not cope. Cognitive and social skills deficits are proposed as the likely contributors to the differences. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools , Volume 7 , November 1997 , pp. 65 - 74
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1997

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Andersson, K.E., Richards, H.C., & Hallahan, D.P. (1980). Piagetian task performance of learning disabled children. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 13, 37–41.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Band, E.B., & Weisz, J.R. (1988). How to feel better when it feels bad: Children's perspectives on coping with everyday stress. Developmental Psychology, 24, 247–253.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barton, J.A. (1988). Problem - solving strategies in learning disabled and normal boys: Developmental and instructional effects. Journal of Educational Psychology, 80, 184–191.Google Scholar
Bryan, T.E., & Bryan, J. (1981). Some personal and social experiences of learning disabled children. Advanced Special Education, 3, 147–186.Google Scholar
Carlson, C.I. (1987). Social interaction goals and strategies of children with learning disabilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 20, 306–311.Google Scholar
Compas, B.E., Malcarne, V.L., & Fondacaro, K.M. (1988). Coping with stressful events in older children and young adolescents. J Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56, 405–411.Google Scholar
Copeland, E.P., Hess, R.S. (1995). Differences in young adolescents' coping strategies based on gender and ethnicity. Journal of Early Adolescence, 15, 203–219.Google Scholar
Durrant, J.E. (1994). A decade of research on learning disabilities: A report card on the state of the literature. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 27, 25–33.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ebata, A.T., & Moos, R.H. (1991). Coping and adjustment in distressed and healthy adolescents. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 25, 372–393.Google Scholar
Feigin, J., & Meisgeier, C. (1987). Learning disabilities and critical social and behavioural issues: A review. Journal of Reading, Writing, and Learning Disabilities, 3, 259–274.Google Scholar
Friedman, I.A., & Mann, L. (1993). Coping patterns in adolescent decision making: An Israeli-Australian comparison. Journal of Adolescence, 16, 187–199Google Scholar
Frydenberg, E., & Lewis, R. (1996). The Coping Strategies used by adolescents in intact and in separated families. Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 6,87–97.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frydenberg, E. (1993). The Coping Strategies Used By Capable Adolescents. Australian Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 3, 15–23.Google Scholar
Frydenberg, E., & Lewis, R. (1991a). Adolescent coping in the Australian context. The Australian Educational Researcher, 18, 65–82.Google Scholar
Frydenberg, E., & Lewis, R. (1991b). Adolescent coping: the different ways in which boys and girls cope. Journal of Adolescence, 14, 119–133.Google Scholar
Frydenberg, E., & Lewis, R. (1993). Boys play sport and girls turn to others: Age, gender and ethnicity as determinants of coping. Journal of Adolescence, 16, 253–266.Google Scholar
Geisthardt, C., & Munsch, J. (1996). Coping with school stress: A comparison of adolescents with and without learning disabilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 29, 287–296.Google Scholar
Hoyle, S.G., & Serafica, F.C. (1988). Peer status of children with and without learning disabilities: A multimethod study. Learning Disability Quarterly, 11, 322–332.Google Scholar
Lazarus, R.S. (1980). The stress and coping paradigm. In Eisendorfer, C., Cohen, D.Kleinman, A., & Maxim, P. (Eds.), Theoretical basis for psychopathology, (pp. 287–322). New York: Spectrum.Google Scholar
Lazarus, R.S., & Launier, R. (1978). Stress-related transactions between person and environment. In Pervin, A. & Lewis, M. (Eds.), Perspectives in international psychology, (pp. 287–327). New York: Plenum.Google Scholar
Mann, L., Harmoni, R., & Power, C. (1989). Adolescent decision making: The development of competence. Journal of Adolescence, 12, 265–278.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Morrison, G.M., Laughlin, J., Smith, D., Ollansky, E., & Moore, B. (1992). Preferences of sources of social support of Hispanic male adolescents with mild learning handicaps. Education and Training in Mental Retardation, 27, 132–144.Google Scholar
Parsons, A., Frydenberg, E., & Poole, C. (1996). Overachievement and coping strategies in adolescent males. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 66, 109–114.Google Scholar
Patterson, A. C., & McCubbin, H. I. (1987). Adolescent coping style and behaviours: Conceptualisation and measurement. Journal of Adolescence, 10, 163–186.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Seiffge-Krenke, I., & Shulman, S. (1990). Coping style in adolescence. Journal of Cross-cultural Psychology, 2, 351–337.Google Scholar
Shulman, S., Carlton-Ford, S., Levian, R., & Hed, S. (1995). Coping styles of learning disabled adolescents and their parents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 24, 281–294.Google Scholar
Spirito, A., Stark, L.J., & Williams, , (1988). Development of a brief coping checklist for use with pediatric populations. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 13, 555–574.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed