Sex, Agency, and Communion as Predictors of Coping Mechanisms in College Students

• In Event: 29.082 - Roundtable Session 9
  In Roundtable Session: 29.082-18 - Stress, Coping, and Resilience

Abstract

This study involves investigating gender-related correlates of coping mechanisms in college students. Nine coping mechanisms were predicted from biological sex (maleness or femaleness) and from two gender-related personality variables: agency and communion. Five hundred ninety-four college students completed questionnaires. Results revealed that four coping mechanisms (planning, active coping, denial, and seeking instrumental support) were predicted by both agency and communion. The other five coping mechanisms (restraint coping, behavioral disengagement, mental disengagement, substance use, and seeking emotional support) were predicted by either agency or communion, and sometimes by sex in addition. These results support that agency and communion are both beneficial traits in regard to coping skills and that socializing children to identify as both agentic and communal may be constructive.

Authors

• Gretchen Maria Reevy, California State University - East Bay

• John Chung, California State University - East Bay