Date of Award

1999

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Counseling

First Advisor

Marilyn Patterson

Second Advisor

Pamela Nickels

Third Advisor

Anita Sankar

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between adolescent coping strategies and the marital status of the adolescent's parents. The 88 subjects in this study were all students from the same suburban St. Louis County high school. The subjects ranged in age from 15 to 19 years of age. The participants were administered the Adolescent Coping Orientation for Problem Experience (A-COPE). It was determined that there was no significant difference between adolescents from divorced and nondivorced families in nine of the twelve subscales of the A-COPE. Three subscales, however, did reveal a significant difference between adolescents from divorced and nondivorced families. The three subscales, seeking diversions, investing in close friends, and seeking professional support showed that the adolescents from divorced families utilize these coping strategies more than adolescents from nondivorced families.

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Counseling Commons

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