Stressor appraisals, coping, and post event outcomes: The dimensionality and antecedents of stress-related growth

This study evaluated the dimensionality and the appraisal and coping antece dents of stress-related growth. We surveyed university alumni (N = 447) and college students (N = 472) about their most stressful event in the past tw o years. Participants reported appraisals of this event and their use of sp ecific coping strategies. To assess growth from this event, we used a revis ed version of Park, Cohen, and Murch's (1996) Stress-Related Growth Scale ( SRGS). Results from confirmatory factor analyses in both samples indicated that the revised SRGS should be regarded as a multidimensional instrument. Next, we used cluster analysis to identify event profiles based on appraisa l and coping reports, and then compared these profiles on reports of growth . In both samples, stress-related growth was highest for individuals who re ported highly stressful events, for which they had adequate coping and supp ort resources and for which they used adaptive coping strategies.