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Coping Skills Training to Adolescent Girls in a Small Group Counselling Context

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 October 2015

Shireen Hawkins ,
Vicki McKenzie  and
Erica Frydenberg
Shireen Hawkins
Affiliation:
The University of Melbourne
Vicki McKenzie
Affiliation:
The University of Melbourne
Erica Frydenberg*
Affiliation:
The University of Melbourne
*
Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne, Carlton, VICTORIA, 3010, Email: e.frydenberg@unimelb.edu.au
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Abstract

This study utilised a mixed-methods approach to examine change for 27 self-selected female adolescents (aged 14-15) who received 11 sessions of coping skills education (Frydenberg & Brandon, 2002a; 2002b) at school in a small-group counselling context by a trainee psychologist. All sessions were tape-recorded and transcribed. Participants reported improvements in self-knowledge, knowledge of options for coping, attitude towards solving problems, differentiating threatening from non-threatening stressors and self-belief. Analysis of pre- and post-teacher questionnaires indicated that class misbehaviour for these students significantly reduced and academic engagement significantly increased. Analysis of students’ pre- and post-questionnaires for their main concern indicated significant reductions in Non-Productive coping. Participants were more likely to use coping strategies that they perceived to be helpful after taking part in this program. When it came to coping in general, students reported significant reductions in their use of Non-Productive coping and increases in both Productive and Reference to Others coping styles.

Keywords

Coping skillsTraining for girls
Type
Research Article
Information
The Educational and Developmental Psychologist , Volume 23 , Issue 1 , 2006 , pp. 69 - 90
Copyright
Copyright © Australian Psychological Society 2006

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