Resolution of stressful experiences as an indicator of coping effectiveness in young adults: An event history analysis

Coping research has been limited by an almost exclusive focus on emotional distress as an indicator of coping effectiveness. The present study conside rs the role of stressful event duration as an indicator of coping effective ness. The effects of specific coping strategies on the duration and resolut ion of different types of stressful experiences was examined in a cross-sec tional, retrospective study of a large young adult sample (N = 829; age ran ge = 21 to 26; 60% female; 94% Caucasian). Results revealed that use of cop ing strategies varied among different types of stressors, which included in terpersonal problems, role strains, illnesses, and transitional experiences . Event history analyses indicated that avoidance and active cognitive copi ng were linked with longer duration, while active behavioral coping was lin ked with shorter duration. These coping differences did not account for the differences in duration across stressor domain. Finally, the impact of cop ing on duration varied as events progressed.