DAILY STRESSORS AND COPING RESPONSES - A COMPARISON OF RURAL AND SUBURBAN CHILDREN

Although research has examined problems of stress and health among rur al families, little is known about coping phenomena directly from the perspective of rural children. This study compared two groups of child ren, one rural and the other suburban, in their reports of daily stres sors and coping efforts as actually experienced. Using semistructured diaries over a period of six weeks, 21 rural children and 23 suburban children reported daily sources of stress, coping efforts, and coping resources. Rural children were more compliant in completing diaries. T hey reported more internal, cognitive-intrapsychic source of stress, w hereas suburban children listed more external environmental sources. S uburban boys reported submission as the most common coping response, a nd rural boys listed organized activities and problem-solving approach es. Other interesting differences between the rural and suburban child ren, and gender differences among both groups emerged.