Clinical and Developmental Perspectives on Adolescent Coping

Although the development of appropriate coping strategies has been understood as an essential element of healthy adjustment, few studies have demonstrated the link between coping and psychological development. Similarly, research on adolescents with behavioral problems has neglected coping as an important variable in understanding and treating these conditions. This study examines the relationships between psychological development, coping strategies and symptoms in a sample of 302 psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents, ages 12–16. Subjects completed the Adolescent Coping Orientation for Problem Strategies Questionnaire, (A-COPE), the Youth Self Report symptom checklist (YSR), and Loevinger's measure of ego development. Results showed that Avoidance and Ventilation were associated with increased behavior problems and lower levels of ego development. Problem solving and interpersonal strategies were associated with fewer symptoms and higher levels of development. Significant gender differences were found with girls using more interpersonal coping and boys using more physically active strategies. Gender differences were also found in the relationship of coping strategies to both symptomatic behavior and development. The results are discussed in the context of a developmental approach to adolescent psychopathology.