Die verband tussen stressore, hulpbronne vir coping en optimisme by die stedelike adolessent

[摘要] English: The relationship between optimism, stressors and coping resources of the urban adolescent.(Keywords: Optimism, stressors, coping resources, urban adolescents, Life Orientation Test, Life Stressors and Social Resources Inventory �?Youth Form {LISRES-Y})The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of stressors and coping resources on the level of optimism experienced by urban adolescents. The study was conducted to eventually measure the level of optimism of urban adolescents as well as their experience of and exposure to stressors and coping resources. Specific attention was focused on different demographic variables and their influence on stressors and coping resources.A paradigm shift in recent decades has given rise to the change in focus from pathogenesis to fortigenesis (origin of strength). Psychological well-being and the individual's ability to remain healthy in spite of life struggles, is emphasized. Different models of the stress and coping process are discussed, together with the main components namely stressors, coping resources, coping strategies and the interaction between stressors and coping resources. The different moderator variables namely sex, race, socio-economic status and marital status of parents were investigated, and their influence on optimism, stressors and coping resources are briefly illustrated. The development of optimism to impact on the individual's performance, are also discussed in depth. Finally a description of adolescence, the stressors to which adolescents are exposed and the coping resources that are available to them, are included. The literature study is concluded with an integration and discussion of the relationship between optimism, stressors and coping resources.The research group consisted of 203 urban adolescents in grades 10, 11 and 12 from different high schools in Bloemfontein. An ex post facto research design (non-recurring cross section) was used for this study and the respondents were selected according to an availability sample. The adolescents completed a biographical questionnaire, the Life Orientation Test and the Life Stressors and Social Resources Inventory �?Youth Form (LISRES-Y) (with eight stressor scales namely physical health, home and money, parents, siblings, extended family, friends, girlfriend/boyfriend and negative life events, and six scales for coping resources namely parents, siblings, extended family, friends, girlfriend/boyfriend and positive life events). Favourable reliability indices were reported with aid of Cronbach's alpha coefficients.According to the results, urban adolescents experience average levels of optimism. This is in accordance with previous research which postulates that the youth today is not inclined towards high levels of optimism. Negative life events, school and extended family represent the adolescent's main stressors whilst positive life events serve as the most important coping resource. A higher percentage of black adolescents experience higher levels of optimism while a lower percentage of individuals in lower socio-economic status groups experience higher levels of optimism. Adolescents whose parents are married seem more likely to experience average levels of optimism than adolescents from single parent and recomposed families. Lastly it was found that black adolescents experience more stress regarding material needs than do white or coloured adolescents.

[发布机构] University of the Free State