Direct and crossover effects of prosocial and antisocial coping behaviors

The relationship of antisocial and prosocial coping behaviors to individual and relationship well-being was prospectively examined in a sample of fire -emergency workers (FEWs) and their marital or romantic partners (69 couple s). Results of hierarchical multiple regression equations indicated that FE Ws' antisocial coping was related to higher levels of depressive symptoms. Prosocial coping was related to decreased anger expression and increased re lationship adjustment. Partners' prosocial coping was a significant predict or of FEWs' reports of better relationship adjustment. For partners, prosoc ial coping was positively related to their relationship adjustment. FEWs' c oping was unrelated to partners' outcome. Results for the FEWs support the notion that coping has direct and crossover effects. Moreover, results indi cate that prosocial and antisocial coping behaviors have differential effec ts on well-being.