Coping Strategies of Pakistani Adolescents for their Daily Stressors

Coping strategies of 250 Pakistani adolescents (126 males and 124 females)were investigated in relation to their daily stressors. Problem Questionnaire (PQ) & Coping across Situations Questionnaire (CASQ) (Seiffge-Krenke, 1995) were used. Both scales covered eight domains viz. school, parents, peers, leisure time, relationship with opposite gender, future, and self. Results indicated that adolescents used functional coping more often for perceived stressors and inclined more towards internal resources like appraising the situation and reflecting upon different solutions. Males showed more stress than females in the domains of school, future, parents and relationship with opposite gender. In the perception of stress mid-adolescents showed more stress than early and late adolescents. Females scored higher on both active coping and internal coping as compared to males, whereas on dysfunctional coping, both scored evenly. Older adolescents however scored higher on active coping and internal coping, as compared to early and mid adolescents.