RESEARCH PAPER
Coping strategies and well-being among young Polish adults: the mediating role of inner dialogues
1
The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
Submission date: 2024-12-18
Final revision date: 2025-04-04
Acceptance date: 2025-04-14
Online publication date: 2025-06-23
Corresponding author
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Background:
In previous research, the fourteen coping strategies proposed by Carver have been assigned to two categories: adaptive (planning, active coping, positive reframing, acceptance, using emotional and instrumental support, religion, and humor) and maladaptive (self-blame, denial, self-distraction, venting, behavioral disengagement, and substance use). Some studies have shown that the former correlate positively, while the latter correlate negatively with psychological well-being. The initiation of coping strategies seems to co-occur with the experience of uncertainty, which is typically accompanied by an inner dialogue. Different types of inner dialogues are related to well-being in different ways. This study aims to test whether identity and ruminative inner dialogues mediate the relationship between coping strategies and well-being.
Participants and procedure:
Convenience sampling was used. The study was conducted through an online survey. Participants were 337 young adults (181 women and 156 men) aged 20-35 years. They completed the Brief-COPE Inventory, Psychological Well-Being Scale, and Internal Dialogical Activity Scale-Revised.
Results:
It was found that ruminative inner dialogues mediate negative relationships between maladaptive coping strategies and well-being. Identity inner dialogues are mediators of positive relationships between adaptive coping strategies and well-being, with the exception of humor and using emotional support.
Conclusions:
These findings can be used by mental health professionals in counseling and therapy. To enhance clients’ well-being, it is essential to strengthen their identity internal dialogues (associated with adaptive coping) and reduce their ruminative internal dialogues (associated with maladaptive strategies).
In previous research, the fourteen coping strategies proposed by Carver have been assigned to two categories: adaptive (planning, active coping, positive reframing, acceptance, using emotional and instrumental support, religion, and humor) and maladaptive (self-blame, denial, self-distraction, venting, behavioral disengagement, and substance use). Some studies have shown that the former correlate positively, while the latter correlate negatively with psychological well-being. The initiation of coping strategies seems to co-occur with the experience of uncertainty, which is typically accompanied by an inner dialogue. Different types of inner dialogues are related to well-being in different ways. This study aims to test whether identity and ruminative inner dialogues mediate the relationship between coping strategies and well-being.
Participants and procedure:
Convenience sampling was used. The study was conducted through an online survey. Participants were 337 young adults (181 women and 156 men) aged 20-35 years. They completed the Brief-COPE Inventory, Psychological Well-Being Scale, and Internal Dialogical Activity Scale-Revised.
Results:
It was found that ruminative inner dialogues mediate negative relationships between maladaptive coping strategies and well-being. Identity inner dialogues are mediators of positive relationships between adaptive coping strategies and well-being, with the exception of humor and using emotional support.
Conclusions:
These findings can be used by mental health professionals in counseling and therapy. To enhance clients’ well-being, it is essential to strengthen their identity internal dialogues (associated with adaptive coping) and reduce their ruminative internal dialogues (associated with maladaptive strategies).
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