DIFFERENCES IN COPING STRATEGIES AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION TOWARD ADOLESCENT SUICIDE IDEATION ACROSS RACE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25159/2415-5829/2188Keywords:
coping resources, emotion-focused coping, problem-focused coping, dysfunctional copingAbstract
The well-being of adolescents is influenced by their ability to cope with various challenges they experience during this developmental period. Living in a multicultural society, group differences and other socially dividing factors could influence various psychosocial aspects of their lives. The purpose of this article is to explore the contribution of coping strategies across race and how they influence suicide ideation in different race groups. Non-experimental, cross-sectional research was conducted using a criterion group design. A random sample of 600 learners was gathered from ten schools in the Northern Cape Province. Data were collected using the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire for Adolescents, and COPE Questionnaire. Results indicate that black participants reported higher use of dysfunctional coping strategies as compared to the other race groups, while the coping subscales for white participants explained the highest variance for suicide ideation. Further studies are suggested to explore the underlying reasons for the high levels of dysfunctional coping strategies in some groups in particular.
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