PSYCHOLOGICAL ADJUSTMENT AND COPING STYLES OF URBAN AFRICAN-AMERICAN HIGH-SCHOOL-STUDENTS

In a study of African American (n = 208) urban high school students, g rade point average (GPA) and specific strategies for coping with day-t o-day stressors were found to be significantly related to psychologica l adjustment. Students who had higher GPAs tended to use family member s as a means of solving problems, minimized problems by the use of hum or, and used relaxation activities less often were found to have the m ost positive psychological adjustment, as measured by the index score of the Affects Balance Scale (ABS). Reported negative affect was not f ound to be significantly influenced by coping style, whereas positive affect was.