The relation between positive psychological states and coping styles

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate professor of psychology, Islamic Azad University, Torbat-e-Jam Branch, Torbat-e-Jam, Iran

2 Assistant professor of educational sciences, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad Branch, Mashhad, Iran

3 PhD student of psychology, Islamic Azad University, Zarand Branch, Zarand, Iran

4 MA. in psychology, Islamic Azad University, Torbat-e-Jam Branch, Torbat-e-Jam, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: It seems that attendance to humans’ abilities indeed to disabilities and human defects is more effective in health programs. The researchers currently referred to the relation between positive psychological states such as trust on God, hope and … with effective strategy for coping with mental problems and disabilities. The present study aimed to assess the relation between positive psychological states and coping styles.
 Materials and Methods: The statistical community of this cross-sectional/correlative research consists of all 19-24 year students in Payam-e-Noor and Islamic Azad Universities of Fariman city in Khorasan Razavi province in 2012. The sample included of 230 participants (115 men and 115 women) who selected through cluster sampling method. They fulfilled the stress coping strategies questionnaire (Lazarus and Folkman, 1984) and positive psychological states questionnaire (Rajaei, Khoynezhad and Nesaei, 2011). Data analyzed by multivariable regression and SPSS software version 18.   
 Results: There is positive and significant relation between positive psychological states and problem focused coping strategy (P<0.01). The same relation is seen between acknowledgment and emotion focused coping strategy (P<0.05). Also, there is negative and significant relation between hope and relaxation and emotion focused coping strategy (P<0.01) but there is not any relation between other positive psychological states and emotion focused coping strategy. The findings of multivariable regression showed that positive psychological states included goal, acknowledgement, socialization and optimism can explain 27% of problem focused coping strategy and two states of acknowledgement and optimism can predict 0.053% of emotion focused coping strategy.
 Conclusion: Overall, the positive psychological states have stronger relation with problem-focused coping strategies in comparison to emotion-focused coping strategies.

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