Coping, control, and experience of anxiety: An interactional perspective

Abstract

A group of 17-year-olds, boys and girls, were presented 20 situations of various types, all empirically known to provoke anxiety. Different types of situations were distinguished by different activating factors in combination with various feared outcomes. The subjects reported anxiety reactions, perceived behavior and predictive control, and the coping behavior they would choose in relation to each situation. Choice of coping solutions—constructive, passive or escape—was found to be dependent on the perceived level of anxiety, perceived behavior and perceived predictive control. Individuals were assigned to groups, according to their most preferred coping solution. When such groups were studied in interaction with different types of situations, significant effects on self-reported anxiety, behavior control and predictive control were found. Certain sex differences were also found. It is concluded that both situational and individual characteristics must be taken into account when individual behavior is studied and that the use of individuals' general dispositions to employ certain types of coping solutions are of limited value.

Key Words:

• Anxiety
• control
• coping
• interaction