Type D personality, stress, and symptoms of burnout: the influence of avoidance coping and social support.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated whether approach coping, avoidance coping, or perceptions of available social support mediated the relationship between Type D personality and perceived stress. Furthermore, this research also examined whether Type D moderated the relationship between perceived stress and symptoms of burnout.


METHODS
In this cross-sectional study, 334 (male N=180; female N=154) first-year undergraduate students completed the Type D Scale-14 (DS14), the Brief Approach/Avoidance Coping Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


RESULTS
Multiple mediation analysis revealed that only resignation and withdrawal coping, but not social support partially mediated the relationship between Type D and perceived stress. A small moderation effect was found for the disengagement subscale of the burnout inventory, with Type D individuals experiencing higher levels of disengagement at low and average stress levels. The correlations between variables provided support for most of the prediction from the literature with regard to Type D.


CONCLUSIONS
Of the participants in the present study, 24.9% were classified as Type D. These individuals tend to use more passive and maladaptive avoidance coping strategies such as resignation and withdrawal. This is associated with higher levels of perceived stress and linked to increased levels of burnout symptoms.
Polman
Remco
R
Centre for Applied Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK. rcjpolman@uclan.ac.uk
Borkoles
Erika
E
Nicholls
Adam R
AR
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology*; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000523:psychology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult