Coping with stress during childhood and adolescence: Problems, progress, and potential in theory and research

Progress and issues in the study of coping with stress during childhood and adolescence are reviewed. Definitions of coping are considered, and the re lationship between coping and other aspects of responses to stress (e.g., t emperament and stress reactivity) is described. Questionnaire, interview, a nd observation measures of child and adolescent coping are evaluated with r egard to reliability and validity. Studies of the association of coping wit h symptoms of psychopathology and social and academic competence are review ed. Initial progress has been made in the conceptualization and measurement of coping, and substantial evidence has accumulated on the association bet ween coping and adjustment. Problems still remain in the conceptualization and measurement of coping in young people, however, and aspects of the deve lopment and correlates of coping remain to be identified. An agenda for fut ure research on child-adolescent coping is outlined.