An experimental approach to communal coping

Bibliographic Data

ID2931754
AuthorsM Zajdel (0000-0002-5097-3463, corresponding author), Vicki S Helgeson (0000-0002-2099-4714, Carnegie Mellon University)
Year2021
Volume38
Issue4
Pages1380-1400
Publication date2021-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Social and Personal Relationships (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0265-4075 • E-ISSN: 1460-3608
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0265407521992464
OpenAlexW3131979385
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited34

Communal coping has been linked to better psychological and physical health across a variety of stressful contexts. However, there has been no experimental work causally linking communal coping to relationship and health outcomes. In addition, research has emphasized the collaboration over the shared appraisal component of communal coping. The present study sought to isolate the role of appraisal by manipulating whether dyads viewed a stressor as shared or individual. Friend dyads (n = 64 dyads; 128 participants) were randomly assigned to view a stressor as either a shared or an individual problem, but both groups were allowed to work together. Across self-report and observational measures dyads reported more collaboration and support, better relationship outcomes, and more positive mood after the stressor in the shared than the individual appraisal group. This is the first laboratory evidence to establish causal links of communal coping-specifically shared appraisal-to positive relationship and health outcomes

Cognitive appraisal · Coping (psychology · Coping behavior · Developmental psychology · Mood · Observational study · Stressor · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Clinical Psychology · Health, psychology, and well-being · Medicine · Psychology · Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology · Social Psychology

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