EFFECTS OF NEUROTICISM AND AVOIDANT COPING STYLE ON MALADJUSTMENT DURING EARLY ADOLESCENCE

This study examined the association of neuroticism, avoidant coping st yle; and maladjustment. Initially two hundred and sixteen 12 and 13 ye ar old adolescents completed questionnaires covering neuroticism, avoi dant coping and maladjustment. Their maladjustment levels were also ra ted by their parents. Results for a sub-sample (N = 101), who indicate d some degree of maladjustment, showed that neuroticism predicted avoi dant coping and parent-rated maladjustment positively. Avoidant coping showed a positive non-significant trend in; the prediction of parent- rated maladjustment, and it also moderated, by exacerbating, the effec t of neuroticism on maladjustment. Results did not indicate mediation by avoidant coping on the relation between neuroticism and parent-rate d maladjustment. These findings are discussed in terms of direct, mode rational, mediational and differential choice effectiveness models for the relation between neuroticism, avoidant coping style and maladjust ment during early adolescence. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All righ ts reserved.