Stress Coping Strategies as Mediators

Toward a Better Understanding of Sexual, Substance, and Delinquent Behavior-Related Risk-Taking among Transition-Aged Youth

Datos Bibliográficos

ID2153455
AutoresJacinda K Dariotis (0000-0002-3217-0392, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA, autor de correspondencia), Frances R Chen (0000-0001-5292-2486, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA)
Año2022
Volumen43
Número4
Páginas397-414
Fecha de publicación2022-04-03
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaDeviant Behavior (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0163-9625 • E-ISSN: 1521-0456
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/01639625.2020.1796210
PMID35757162
OpenAlexW3081123695
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas9
Referencias citadas52

Transitional aged youth (18-24) report increasing and peaking risk-taking (sexual, substance, and delinquent behavior). Stressful life events (SLE) are associated with these risk-taking behaviors. Little is known regarding what mediates these relationships. This study tests whether various coping strategies mediate the relationship between SLE and risky behavior in three domains among 18-24 year olds (N=126; M age = 21.3, SD = 1.9; 52% Black; 56% female). After adjusting for covariates and simultaneously modeling two stress variables, only stressful life events, but not perceived stress, was uniquely associated with risk-taking behaviors at moderate to high levels. Significant indirect effects of SLE via avoidance coping were found for illicit drug use both concurrently and prospectively and for risky sex concurrently. For participants reporting greater stressful life experiences, substance use and risky sex behaviors become greater as avoidance coping increases. Avoidance coping was a partial mediator for the concurrent relationship between stressful life events and substance use/risky sex, but a full mediator for the prospective relationship between stressful life event and substance use. None of the coping strategies mediate the relationship between stressful life events and delinquency. Prevention and intervention strategy implications for reducing avoidance coping and promoting alternative coping styles are discussed

Coping (psychology · Developmental psychology · Substance use · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Child Abuse and Trauma · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Psychology