Diaz-Guerrero hypothesized in 1967 that Anglo-Americans differed from
Mexicans along a dimension of active versus passive coping styles. Spe
cifically, he thought Anglo-Americans preferred to engage in other-mod
ifications (active coping) whereas Mexicans preferred to engage in sel
f-modifications (passive coping) in response to stressful events. In a
test of Diaz-Guerrero's proposal the Coping Orientations to Problems
Experienced was given to 108 Anglo- and Hispanic-American female inmat
es; no differences between the groups were found on measures of active
and passive coping. The Hispanic group did not differ on active or pa
ssive coping as a function of measured acculturation; however, for bot
h groups, education and active coping mildly correlated, suggesting th
at socioeconomic status may be more related to active coping than cult
ure.