ERIC Number: EJ818242
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Dec
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0033-3085
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Coping Strategies of High School Students in an International Baccalaureate Program
Suldo, Shannon M.; Shaunessy, Elizabeth; Michalowski, Jessica; Shaffer, Emily J.
Psychology in the Schools, v45 n10 p960-977 Dec 2008
Students who are enrolled in academically challenging curricula face a multitude of stressors related to increased academic demands in addition to the developmental and biological challenges that are normative to adolescence. This article presents results of a qualitative study conducted to uncover the coping styles of students in a rigorous curriculum and determine which strategies are associated with varying levels of psychopathology (specifically, low and above-average anxiety). Forty-eight students from an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma program participated in eight focus groups, in which participants were grouped by level of anxiety. Following transcription analysis using grounded theory methodology, researchers identified coping strategies and the frequency of these approaches; active problem-solving and avoidance of demands were reported most often among all IB students in this investigation. Students with above-average levels of anxiety discussed seeking social support more often, whereas students with low anxiety more frequently discussed avoiding demands, reducing one's workload, and seeking positive emotions. (Contains 3 tables.)
Descriptors: Coping, Student Behavior, Advanced Placement Programs, High School Students, Focus Groups, Psychopathology, Anxiety, Grounded Theory, Mental Health
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools
Audience: Students
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A