ABSTRACT

There are numerous constructs that can be interpreted as correlates of coping. Age and gender are frequently cited, as are personality characteristics such as hope, resilience, optimism and self-esteem. By their very nature these constructs are culturally embedded. Just as there are both similarities and differences in the way young people from different communities identify their concerns, so there are similarities and differences in the way they cope. Each of the above correlates will be addressed in turn. Gender can also be considered as a correlate of coping but since it is the most frequently identi®ed correlate it is addressed in chapter 5. Each of the correlates may contribute in its own way to the coping actions of the individual. Sometimes it is not possible to account for the impact of one factor to the exclusion of another, but the studies below indicate the in¯uence that each of the factors being considered may have on the coping actions of the individual.