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Mindful coping and mental health among adolescents
- Authors:
- THARALDSEN Kjersti B., BRU Edvin, WILHELMSEN Ingvard
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 13(2), May 2011, pp.21-31.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
In western countries, including Norway, there is a high prevalence of mental health problems among adolescents. This paper examines the possible contribution of mindful coping to the enhancement of mental health in adolescents. The study aimed to investigate how various aspects of mindful coping are related to psychological symptoms in a non-clinical adolescent sample, and how such coping might moderate the relationship between stress exposure and psychological symptoms. The aspects of mindful coping are: awareness; distraction; preventing negative emotions; and constructive self-assertion. A total of 750 students aged between 16-20 years from 2 high schools completed a questionnaire which included measures of mindful coping, current psychological symptom status, and perceived life strains. The results show that coping by preventing negative emotions and constructive self-assertion was associated with fewer psychological symptoms and weaker association between perceived life strains and psychological symptoms. Coping by use of distraction was related to more psychological symptoms and did not moderate the association between perceived life strains and psychological symptoms. Finally, coping by use of awareness was related to a stronger association of perceived life strains and psychological symptoms. Implications for research and practice are discussed.