The Relationship between coping styles and mental health in Sepidan’s high school students

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Abstract

The type of coping styles which is used by adolescents in stressful situations affect their mental health. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between coping styles and mental health indices. 180 students (80 boys, 100 girls) were selected from Sepindan’s high schools using a clustering sampling method. Coping styles were measured by the Coping Orientations to the Problems Experienced (the COPE) and mental health was measured by the General Health Questionnaire (G.H.Q.). The results showed that Problem-focused and Rational coping styles could predict mental health indices, but avoidance and dysfunctional coping styles could predict mental disease indices. Furthermore, boys demonstrated greater mental health compared to girls, but girls obtained greater scores on all three coping styles. The results suggest that problem focused and rational coping styles might have positive effect on mental health, but avoidance and dysfunctional coping styles might have negative effect on the mental health of adolescents.

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