Adaptive and maladaptive coping styles: Does intervention change anything?

Abstract

Research on adolescent development has devoted little attention to the social and cognitive processes that are linked to adaptive or maladaptive psychological outcomes. This is surprising, since it is widely acknowledged that most adolescents are confronted with a wide range of normative and non-normative stressors, which may tax their emotional and cognitive resources (Compas, Hinden, & Gerhardt, 1995). Because increased psychosocial stress during this developmental period is a significant and pervasive risk factor for psychopathology (Compas, Connor-Smith, Saltzman, Thomsen, & Wadsworth, 2001), the ways in which adolescents cope with these stressors are potentially important mediators and moderators of the impact of stress on current and future adjustment. In this regard it is important to note that although a substantial number of adolescents meet the criteria for emotional or behavioural psychopathology, they rarely take up offers of professional help (Zwaanswijk, van der Emde, Verhaak, Bensing, & Verhulst, 2003). Yet, it is not fully known how social cognitive factors are related to this pattern of use of mental health services by adolescents.

This contribution focuses on the coping behaviours of adolescents who have adaptive and maladaptive outcomes. More specifically, it deals with coping as a core process, which is linked to current and future social functioning in adolescents. In addition, it tries to illustrate how social cognitive processes may contribute to the “counselling aversion” (Seiffge-Krenke, 1998) seen in emotionally troubled adolescents.