The Relationship Among Sense of Coherence, Coping Strategies, and Interpersonal Patterns: A Cross-Cultural Study

• In Event: Roundtable Session 8
  In Roundtable Session: Innovative Directions in Cultural Diversity

Abstract

This study tested a path analytic model linking Sense of Coherence, coping strategies (problem-solving, social support-seeking, avoidance) and interpersonal patterns (anxiety, close, depend) in U.S. and Chinese college students. In both samples, people who showed higher SOC had higher levels of social anxiety. SOC also indirectly influenced anxiety through avoidance. In addition, anxiety could predict close and depend in both samples. Social support-seeking could predict problem-solving and the interpersonal pattern of close in U.S. sample. Social support-seeking could predict problem-solving and the interpersonal pattern of depend in Chinese sample. Results of the present study showed a weakness in SOC in both samples and suggested approaches for counseling practitioners to help clients to counterbalance this weakness.

Author

• Ming-Hui Li, Saint John's University