Social Problem Solving as a Predictor of Well-being in Adolescents and Young Adults

Author(s):  
Andrew M. H. Siu ◽  
Daniel T. L. Shek
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sayedhabibollah Ahmadi Forooshani ◽  
Kate Murray ◽  
Nigar Khawaja ◽  
Zahra Izadikhah

Background: Past research has highlighted the role of trauma in social adjustment problems, but little is known about the underlying process. This is a barrier to developing effective interventions for social adjustment of traumatized individuals. The present study addressed this research gap through a cognitive model.Methods: A total of 604 young adults (aged 18–24; living in Australia) from different backgrounds (refugee, non-refugee immigrant, and Australian) were assessed through self-report questionnaires. The data were analyzed through path analysis and multivariate analysis of variance. Two path analyses were conducted separately for migrant (including non-refugee and refugee immigrants) and Australian groups.Results: Analyses indicated that cognitive avoidance and social problem solving can significantly mediate the relation between trauma and social adjustment (p < 0.05). The model explaining this process statistically fit the data (e.g., NFI, TLI, CFI > 0.95). According to the model, reacting to trauma by cognitive avoidance (i.e., chronic thought suppression and over-general autobiographical memory) can disturb the cognitive capacities that are required for social problem solving. Consequently, a lack of effective social problem solving significantly hinders social adjustment. There were no significant differences among the Australian, non-refugee immigrant and refugee participants on the dependent variables. Moreover, the hypothesized links between the variables was confirmed similarly for both migrant (including refugee and non-refugee immigrants) and Australian groups.Conclusion: The findings have important implications for interventions targeting the social adjustment of young individuals. We assert that overlooking the processes identified in this study, can hinder the improvement of social adjustment in young adults with a history of trauma. Recommendations for future research and practice are discussed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fulya Cenkseven Önder ◽  
Engin Eşigül

The main purpose of this was to investigate the role of social problem solving as a mediator or a moderator of percieved stress and psychological well-being in university students. The participants of this study consisted of 350  females and 164 males, a total of 514 university students. Their ages ranged from 18 to 25 years. Data were collected by using the Percieved Stres Inventory (Cohen, Kamarck, & Mermelstein, 1983), Social Problem Solving Inventory Revised Short Form (D’Zurilla, Nezu, & Maydeu-Olivares, 2002) and Scales of Psychological Well-Being (Ryff, 1989). The results indicated that the percieved stress was negatively correlated with the social problem and the psychological well-being. The social problem solving was positively correlated with the psychological well-being. Hierarchial regression analysis showed that social problem solving partially mediated the relationship between perceived stress and psychological well-being. However, social problem solving did not moderate the relationship between perceived stress and psychological well-being. These findings were discussed in the light of related literature and implications were suggested for future research. ÖzetBu çalışmanın temel amacı üniversite öğrencilerinin algıladıkları stres düzeyleri ile psikolojik iyi olma düzeyleri arasındaki ilişkide sosyal problem çözme becerilerinin aracı ve düzenleyici rolünün incelenmesidir. Araştırma 350’si kadın 164’ü erkek toplam 514 üniversite öğrencisi üzerinde gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmaya katılan öğrenciler 18-25 yaş arasında olup, yaş ortalamaları 20.09’dur (Ss=2.02). Araştırmada veri toplamak amacıyla Algılanan Stres Ölçeği (Cohen, Kamarck ve Mermelstein, 1983), Sosyal Problem Çözme Envanteri Kısa Formu (D’Zurilla, Nezu ve Maydeu-Olivares, 2002) ve Psikolojik İyi Olma Ölçekleri (Ryff, 1989) kullanılmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda algılanan stres ile sosyal problem çözme ve psikolojik iyi olma arasında negatif yönde anlamlı, sosyal problem çözme ve psikolojik iyi olma arasında pozitif yönde anlamlı ilişkiler olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Hiyerarşik regresyon analizleri sonucunda sosyal problem çözmenin, algılanan stres ve psikolojik iyi olma arasındaki ilişkide kısmi aracı role sahip iken, düzenleyici bir rolü olmadığı belirlenmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular ilgili alanyazın ve sınırlılıklar ışığında tartışılmış, daha sonra yapılacak çalışmalara ve uygulayıcılara yönelik öneriler sunulmuştur.


2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aneta Kwaśniewska ◽  
Kevin Thomas ◽  
Roger Baker

Abstract Emotional processing and social problem-solving are important for mental well-being. For example, impaired emotional processing is linked with depression and psychosomatic problems. However, little is known about crosscultural differences in emotional processing and social problem-solving and whether these constructs are linked. This study examines whether emotional processing and social problem-solving differs between Western (British) and Eastern European (Polish) cultures. Participants (N = 172) completed questionnaires assessing both constructs. Emotional processing did not differ according to culture, but Polish participants reported more effective social problem-solving abilities than British participants. Poorer emotional processing was also found to relate to poorer social problem-solving. Possible societal reasons for the findings and the implications of the findings for culture and clinical practice are discussed.


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