Coping strategies and locus of control in adolescents.
Adolescents face developmental tasks demanding development of new behavioral strategies and redefining the old ones. Studies have shown that school achievement is a good predictor of adolescents general well-being, while poor school achievement is an important predictor of high risk behaviors. Adolescents (N = 98) with good or poor school achievement were compared according to their coping strategies and locus of control. Adolescent Coping Orientation for Problem Experience and Locus of Control Scale were administrated. The results of our study have shown that there are significant differences between compared groups of adolescents. Adolescents with poor school achievement have a lower sense of competence and self-esteem; they also more often use mechanisms that include investing in extra-familial relationships and seeking social support as well as substance abuse and maladaptive behaviors. These adolescents also have an external locus of control. According to our results adolescents with poor school achievement may be a risk group for developing maladaptive behaviors and we emphasize the need for preventive work with them.
Nisević
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S
Institut za zdravstevnu zastitu dece i omladine, Novi Sad.
Rosić
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S
D000124:Achievement; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D015022:Yugoslavia