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Role of perceived coping efficacy in adolescents’ perception of stress
Author
Tan, Li hui
Supervisor
Chong, Wan Har
Abstract
The current study aims to provide insight into the factors that influence the perceived stress of Singapore secondary school students. The variables of the study were secondary appraisal of situation, perceived autonomy support (from father, mother, teacher), and perceived coping efficacy. The study examined for the relationships of these variables with the perceived stress of Singapore adolescents.
A total of 400 students from the secondary one to four levels in a secondary school participated in the study. They filled out a self-report questionnaire on the perception of coping with stress using Likert scales. The questionnaire was administered in their school during the post-examination period in March 2012.
The findings suggested that higher levels of secondary appraisal, perceived autonomy support, and perceived coping efficacy contributed to lower levels of perceived stress experienced by the students. It was also found that secondary appraisal and perceived coping efficacy did not significantly mediate the relationship between perceived autonomy support and perceived stress.
Some reasons that contributed to the insignificant results could be that this study used only secondary appraisal as one of the variables of interest in this study, leaving out primary appraisal as a potential factor that could also influence the perceived stress of adolescents. Participants in this study were taken from a single school, and based on convenience sampling. Results obtained cannot represent and be generalized to the Singapore adolescent population.
Even though the results obtained in the current study showed no statistical significance, it is worth noting that the theoretical models used in this study may be utilized as a as a guide for a clinical interview. Recognizing pre-existing and current factors that influence the student‟s level of perceived stress can aid clinicians in the selection of therapeutic goals, so that clinicians can better target intervention and treatment programs aimed at modifying individual‟s responses to stress factors (for e.g., help to develop support network).
A total of 400 students from the secondary one to four levels in a secondary school participated in the study. They filled out a self-report questionnaire on the perception of coping with stress using Likert scales. The questionnaire was administered in their school during the post-examination period in March 2012.
The findings suggested that higher levels of secondary appraisal, perceived autonomy support, and perceived coping efficacy contributed to lower levels of perceived stress experienced by the students. It was also found that secondary appraisal and perceived coping efficacy did not significantly mediate the relationship between perceived autonomy support and perceived stress.
Some reasons that contributed to the insignificant results could be that this study used only secondary appraisal as one of the variables of interest in this study, leaving out primary appraisal as a potential factor that could also influence the perceived stress of adolescents. Participants in this study were taken from a single school, and based on convenience sampling. Results obtained cannot represent and be generalized to the Singapore adolescent population.
Even though the results obtained in the current study showed no statistical significance, it is worth noting that the theoretical models used in this study may be utilized as a as a guide for a clinical interview. Recognizing pre-existing and current factors that influence the student‟s level of perceived stress can aid clinicians in the selection of therapeutic goals, so that clinicians can better target intervention and treatment programs aimed at modifying individual‟s responses to stress factors (for e.g., help to develop support network).
Date Issued
2013
Call Number
BF724.3.S86 Tan
Date Submitted
2013