Control, Esteem and Coping in Stressful Encounters
Author: Suhaila Nasser Ouri
Publisher:
Published: 1995
Total Pages: 170
ISBN-13:
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThe purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between locus of control, self-esteem, and coping strategies in stressful encounters. Locus of control was defined as internal and external; self esteem as low and high; coping strategies as cognitive and non-cognitive. Stressful encounters were clustered into nine categories, namely examinations, physical harm, negative life events (financial and troubled relationships), threat, challenge, commitments, achievement, ambiguity and family relations (protection and conflict). The sample included one hundred and twenty-eight students of both sexes (i.e. 64 males and 64 females) randomly selected from the American University of Beirut. Four questionnaires were constructed and piloted for the purpose of the study. A questionnaire to measure the level of stress; a questionnaire to measure the type of coping; a questionnaire to measure the type of control; a questionnaire to measure the level of self-esteem. Data were analyzed by a series of correlation coefficients. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients revealed significant correlations between the variables under investigation. The results were discussed in terms of the relationship between the effectiveness of cognitive coping strategies as opposed to non-cognitive ones and an individual's level of self-esteem and type of control in stressful episodes.