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Promoting effective coping in adolescents ‘at-risk’ for depression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 February 2016

Kerry Bugalski  and
Erica Frydenberg
Kerry Bugalski
Affiliation:
Faculty of Education University of Melbourne
Erica Frydenberg*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Education University of Melbourne
*
Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne, Carlton 3101, Email.[email protected]
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Abstract

This study aims to investigate the effect of a coping skills program ‘The Best of Coping: Bright Lives’ on adolescents' coping styles. This study also seeks to determine if groups of adolescents who are more or less resistant to depression show different gains from program participation.

Comparisons between changes in coping styles were made between groups of adolescents; those considered at-risk for and resistant to depression, those neither resistant or at-risk for depression, and a male and female group. All students, regardless of group membership, participated in the ‘The Best of Coping: Bright Lives’ program.

All participants completed the Adolescent Coping Scale, the Children's Attributional Style Questionnaire and the Perceived Control of Internal States pre and post program.

Results show a significant increase in Reference to Others coping post program, for all groups, particularly the males. The ‘at-risk’ group also appeared to show a decrease in the use of ‘Non-Productive’ coping post program, in comparison to the ‘resilient“ group.

It appears that positive program effects are greatest for adolescents who are prone to depression and use the most ineffective strategies. This indicates that the program effectively targets the adolescents that need the help the most.

Type
Research papers
Information
Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools , Volume 10 , Issue 1 , November 2000 , pp. 111 - 132
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2000

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