Between Avoidance and Problem Solving: What Roles Do Resilience, Efficacy, and Social Support-Seeking Play?

• In Event: Poster Session 7
  In Poster Session: Counseling Psychology Poster Session 2

Abstract

This study explored (1) whether trait resilience, self-efficacy, and social support-seeking mediate the effect of stress on problem-solving and (2) whether trait resilience, self-efficacy, problem-solving, and social support-seeking moderate the effect of stress on avoidance. A total of 220 college students participated in the study. Structural Equation Modeling was applied to evaluate the mediation and moderation models. Findings showed that resilience and self-efficacy were not as "perfect" as expected. They could positively influence problem-solving but could not buffer the effect of stress on avoidance to a significant extent. Social support-seeking could play a more important role than trait resilience and self-efficacy did in reducing avoidance, when individuals intentionally used social support-seeking as a source for problem-solving instead of avoidance.

Authors

• Robert Eschenauer, Saint John's University

• Ming-Hui Li, Saint John's University

• Heather Robertson, St. John's University