Parent and Adolescent Responses to PovertyRelated Stress: Tests of Mediated and Moderated Coping Models

Abstract

We tested several models of the associations among economic strain, life stress, coping, involuntary stress responses, and psychological symptoms in a sample of 57 parent-adolescent dyads from rural, lower-income families. Economic strain and life stress predicted symptoms for both parents and adolescents. Stressorsymptom specificity was found for parents, such that economic strain uniquely predicted depression, whereas negative life events predicted hostility. Involuntary stress responses were associated with higher levels of symptoms for both parents and the adolescent children. Secondary control coping was associated with fewer symptoms for both parents and adolescents. Results support a mediational role of coping and responses to stress during adolescence, with a shift to moderational status in adulthood. Implications of these results are discussed with regard to developmental coping theory and potential interventions with at-risk families.

Coping with Social Stress: Implications for Psychopathology in Young Adolescent Girls

“…Interestingly, this pathway did not hold for the adults in the study; rather, coping strategies moderated the association between stress and psychopathology. Although these findings and other studies support the assertion that coping strategies during childhood and adolescence may be context-dependent and susceptible to influences directly from the stressor (Compas et al 2001;Wadsworth et al 2005), none of these studies have focused exclusively on social stressors that may be most salient to adolescents (i.e., peer stress and pubertal timing).Although research supports the notion that stress may impact the availability of coping resources and an adolescent's type of response, in turn increasing the risk for psychopathology (i.e., mediation as described above), children and adolescents do have prior tendencies toward certain stress responses (e.g. physiological arousal, anger, denial).…”

“…Interestingly, this pathway did not hold for the adults in the study; rather, coping strategies moderated the association between stress and psychopathology. Although these findings and other studies support the assertion that coping strategies during childhood and adolescence may be context-dependent and susceptible to influences directly from the stressor (Compas et al 2001;Wadsworth et al 2005), none of these studies have focused exclusively on social stressors that may be most salient to adolescents (i.e., peer stress and pubertal timing).…”

“…In turn, how an adolescent adapts to these experiences is often associated with the expression of emotional and behavioral problems (Compas et al 2001). Much of the research examining how children and adolescents manage and adapt to stressful experiences demonstrates that coping strategies or responses to stress, more broadly, may buffer the effects of stressful experiences, ultimately reducing the likelihood of subsequent psychosocial problems (Jaser et al 2005;Wadsworth et al 2005). However, the stress and coping literature also suggests that the stressful situation itself may influence the range and type of responses to stress, in turn impacting adjustment (Compas et al 1999).…”

“…However, based on findings from this study, this association may be partially accounted for by the way early maturing girls deal with stress. The use of primary control strategies (i.e., problem solving, getting advice from others, and emotional expression and regulation) has been shown to attenuate the effects of stressful experiences, whereas, the experience of involuntary engagement (i.e., impulsive action, physiological arousal, and intrusive thoughts or rumination) has been shown to intensify the effects of stress on the individual (Compas et al 1999;Wadsworth et al 2005). In the present study, results demonstrated that early maturers used fewer primary control strategies and reported more involuntary engagement (rumination, intrusive thoughts, physiological arousal), which in turn may have accounted for greater levels of aggression.…”

Poverty and Mental Health Outcomes in Mexican Adolescents

“…Resilient adolescents and families with a kind of adversity frequently present problem solving and seeking social support. The adverse effect of negative contextual experiences and parental conflict can be buffered with functional coping, being a predictor of resilience [60]. Coping reduces the negative impact of family stress which derives from economic pressure [61].…”