Document Type
Journal Article
Department/Unit
Department of Education Studies
Title
Differences in agency? how adolescents from 18 countries perceive and cope with their futures
Language
English
Abstract
This study investigated how N = 5,126 adolescents (mean age of 15 years) from 18 countries perceive and cope with future- and school-related stress. The adolescents completed the Problem Questionnaire (PQ), which assesses stress, and the Coping Across Situations Questionnaire (CASQ), which assesses three coping styles (reflection/support-seeking, emotional outlet, and withdrawal/denial). Across countries, adolescents reported considerably higher levels of future-related stress than school-related stress. The adolescents actively coped with stressors in both domains and seldom relied on emotional outlet or withdrawal/denial. A clustering of the countries according to socioeconomic criteria and geographical proximity demonstrated that adolescents from the continental group of countries showed low stress and high coping. Adolescents in the east/Asia group showed medium stress and low coping and those in the south group showed high stress and low coping. Developmental context was more strongly associated with stress perception and coping, style than age or gender, a finding relevant for prevention approaches aiming to endorse positive orientation to the future and improve coping competence. © 2012 The Author(s).
Keywords
Academic stress, Coping, Cross-cultural study, Fearful future anticipations
Publication Date
2012
Source Publication Title
International Journal of Behavioral Development
Volume
36
Issue
4
Start Page
258
End Page
270
Publisher
SAGE Publications
DOI
10.1177/0165025412444643
Link to Publisher's Edition
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0165025412444643
ISSN (print)
01650254
ISSN (electronic)
14640651
APA Citation
Seiffge-Krenke, I., Persike, M., Chau, C., Hendry, L., Kloepp, M., Terzini-Hollar, M., Tam, V., Naranjo, C., Herrera, D., Menna, P., Rohail, I., Veisson, M., Hoareau, E., Luwe, M., Loncaric, D., Han, H., & Regusch, L. (2012). Differences in agency? how adolescents from 18 countries perceive and cope with their futures. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 36 (4), 258-270. https://doi.org/10.1177/0165025412444643