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Depressed mood amongst adolescents: The roles of perceived control and coping style

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 February 2016

Troy Speirs  and
Andrew J. Martin
Troy Speirs*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Education, University of Western Sydney, Macarthur
Andrew J. Martin
Affiliation:
Faculty of Education, University of Western Sydney, Macarthur
*
Troy Speirs, Wentworth Area Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, PO Box 94, Penrith 2751. E-mail:cosmic@hermes.net.au
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Abstract

The present study explores the link between perceived control (locus of causation and perceived competence), self-reported coping style (productive and nonproductive coping), and depressed mood amongst a sample of high school students. Internal locus beliefs positively predicted productive coping and negatively predicted non-productive coping. Perceived competence positively predicted productive coping and negatively predicted depressed mood. Non-productive coping positively predicted depressed mood. Findings are discussed with a focus on the implications for counselling professionals in promoting adolescent resilience to depression..

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Type
Research papers
Information
Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools , Volume 9 , Issue 2 , November 1999 , pp. 55 - 76
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1999

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