Psychological stress model in relationship among friends in junior high school students

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to test the psychological stress model on the relationship among junior high-school friends. 523 students anonymously completed the school stressors scale (the 6 items on relationships among friends), the cognitive appraisals scale (the 2 subscales on controllability and influence), the stress coping scale (the 3 subscales on positive coping, support seeking and avoidant coping), the stress responses scale (the 4 subscales; on irritated-angry feelings, helplessness, depressive-anxious feelings and physical state) and the perceived social support scale (5 supporters; father, mother, brothers/sisters, teachers, and friends). The results of the analysis of covariance structures based on the Psychological Stress Theory (R. S. Lazarus and S. Folkman, 1984) indicate that the model presented in this study fitted the data well. Moreover, the authors made the following findings: 1) cognitive appraisals influenced the selection of coping strategies; 2) support seeking played an important role in increasing both positive coping and avoidant coping; 3) avoidant coping increased stress responses directly but positive coping decreased them indirectly; and 4) support seeking increased the sense of controllability of stressors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)