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LIFE STRESS, APPROACH COPING, AND HEALTH-RISK BEHAVIORS IN TAIWANESE

Perng, Shoa-Jen
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1031255675

Abstract Details

2002, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Nursing : Doctoral Program in Nursing.
The purposes of this study were to investigate the effects of perceived daily life stress on selected health-risk behaviors and to examine the moderating function of approach coping in a sample of 722 Taiwanese adolescents. Life stress from personal, family, peer, school, and community was investigated. The selected health-risk behaviors were risky driving, cigarette smoking, beverage drinking, illicit drug use, and attempted suicide. This is a cross-sectional survey study. The sample was non-randomly selected from two senior high schools. Data were collected by using self-administrated questionnaires. The subjects were classified into three coping groups. Structural equation modeling was used to test a hypothesized model of life stresses on health-risk behaviors and to examine the moderating function of approach coping for three coping groups. The study had two main findings. First, different sources of life stresses are correlated with different health-risk behaviors. The relationships between life stresses and health-risk behaviors were demonstrated in the low coping group more than in the medium and the high coping groups, indicating the low coping group is most vulnerable. However, either positive or negative correlations appeared, indicating that the moderating function of approach coping may be effective within group in some situations. Secondly, the moderating effects of approach coping were not consistently demonstrated among the relationships between life stresses and health-risk behaviors. Three methodological reasons (the way of classifying coping groups, not enough items of the Approach Coping Scale, and global use versus situational use of the Approach Coping Scale) and two theoretical reasons (the effectiveness of approach coping strategies and gender-differences on approach coping) are considered for the mixed evidences in this study. The results of the study implicate that health promotion programs should be addressed to the needs of adolescents for the goal of promoting adolescents’ health behaviors. Moreover, more researches are needed for further understanding of the relationships between life stress and health-risk behaviors and the moderating effects of approach coping. Recommendations for development in practice, research, and theory are discussed.
Dr. L. Davis (Advisor)
181 p.
Health Sciences, Nursing
life stress; approach coping; health-risk behaviors; adolescents

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Perng, S.-J. (2002). LIFE STRESS, APPROACH COPING, AND HEALTH-RISK BEHAVIORS IN TAIWANESE [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1031255675

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Perng, Shoa-Jen. LIFE STRESS, APPROACH COPING, AND HEALTH-RISK BEHAVIORS IN TAIWANESE. 2002. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1031255675.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Perng, Shoa-Jen. "LIFE STRESS, APPROACH COPING, AND HEALTH-RISK BEHAVIORS IN TAIWANESE." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2002. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1031255675

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1031255675
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© 2002, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.