Coping strategies: A prospective study of patterns, stability, and relationships with psychological distress
Abstract
The aims of this article are: (1) to explore patterns (clusters) of coping strategies; (2) to examine the stability of individual coping strategies and patterns of coping over time; and (3) to establish long term associations between coping and psychological distress. Coping strategies were assessed with the Brief Cope questionnaire, whereas psychological distress was measured with the ten-item version of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist, in a two-year prospective sample comprising 3,738 employees. Based on TwoStep cluster analysis of the Brief Cope, three different coping patterns were identified: low coping, engagement coping, and disengagement coping. Analyses of long-term stability indicated malleable properties for the individual coping strategies as well as the three clusters. Disengagement coping strategies in the form of self-blame and self-distraction were most strongly associated with distress at follow-up, whereas baseline distress was related to increased use of these strategies two years later. Coping patterns at baseline had no main effects on later levels of distress, but levels of distress at baseline predicted subsequent use of engagement and disengagement coping patterns. The finding that specific coping strategies are malleable suggests that it is possible to modify and develop dysfunctional strategies. The associations between disengagement coping strategies and distress indicate that this kind of coping is especially problematic with regard to mental health…
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The engaged profile corresponds to previously labelled engaged, adaptive, assimilative, or active copers.
“The most extensive profile in our study, the engaged coping profile, corresponds to this combination.”
From Coping profiles and their association with psychological functioning: A latent profile analysis of coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic (2022) · cites this paper as Nielsen & Knardahl, 2014
The avoidant profile identified resembles the previously described avoidant profile.
“The avoidant coping profile identified in our study resembles this profile.”
From Coping profiles and their association with psychological functioning: A latent profile analysis of coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic (2022) · cites this paper as Nielsen & Knardahl, 2014
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How can I deal with missing data in my study?
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“Coping responses to racial discrimination can be categorized along a multiaxial plane, including active/passive and adaptive/maladaptive (Nielsen & Knardahl, 2014).”
Background
- Authors
- Nielsen, M. B., & Knardahl, S.
- Affiliations
- National Institute of Occupational Health (NO)
- Corresponding author
- Nielsen, Morten B.
- Venue
- Scandinavian Journal of Psychology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2014-02-14
- Volume
- 55
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 142-150
- ISSN
- 0036-5564 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-9450
- OpenAlex
- W1995581209
- Cited by
- 220
- References
- 9
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 62 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 7
- FWCI
- 8.90
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Scandinavian Journal of Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Stress and Burnout Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Resilience and Mental Health
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Student Stress and Coping
- Keywords
- coping strategies, coping styles, psychological distress, disengagement coping, engagement coping, self-blame, self-distraction, Brief COPE, employee mental health
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies, Surveys and Questionnaires, Social Support, Stress, Psychological
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