STRATEGIES FOR COPING WITH SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED DISEASES BY ADOLESCENT FEMALES

Coping strategies of adolescent girls in response to the acquisition o f a sexually transmitted disease (STD) were evaluated. Perceptions of control over acquisition of an STD and emotional impact were assessed. The sample consisted of 177 adolescent girls recruited from their sou rce of primary care (mean age = 16.8). There were no differences in th e use of coping strategies by age group or STD history. Subjects used a wide variety of coping strategies; those who viewed the future acqui sition of an STD more negatively used more strategies. Wishful thinkin g was used by most of the subjects, but was not felt to be helpful; de spite this, adolescents with a previous STD were no less likely to use wishful thinking. It was concluded that adolescent health care provid ers must understand girls' responses to STD and help them develop effe ctive coping skills to reduce the incidence of STD.