Job newcomers coping with stressful situations: A micro-analysis of adequate coping and well-being

Aiming at a micro-analytic in-depth study of daily-life stress acid coping and their effects on well-being, a new self-monitoring method combining eve nt-based (stress episodes) and hourly time-based recordings (state monitori ng of well-being indicators) has been developed and implemented on a palmto p computer. The study presents results of the first measures of a longitudi nal design. N = 30 young adults entering the work force (nurses, cooks, ele ctronic technicians, salesmen and bank clerks) are analyzed in this self-mo nitoring study, which includes training session, 15-day self-observation, a nd post-monitoring session. Subjects show good acceptance and compliance, a nd validity and reliability of the data are satisfying. Results reveal the stressful episodes recorded (compared to a student reference group) as less frequent but more "stressful", the emotional stress reactions of the subje cts as more anxious and angry. Coping behaviors evaluated through the behav ior-rules approach (Reicherts, 1999) are rather functional. Agglutination o f individual time series parameters reveals a marked. immediate impact of t he stressful events on well-being indicators (e.g. mood, physical tension). Adequate coping has positive short-term effects in attenuating the stress impact on well-being and facilitates long-term adaptation (positive changes and well-being). Differences between occupational and non-occupational str ess episodes are analyzed, and indications to enhance adequate coping of yo ung adults are presented.