MANAGING STRESS AT THE CROSSROADS Nevaeh Allen , Forensic Psychology MENTOR John Woodman , Behavioral and Social Sciences
Various coping methods are used by people around the world to manage symptoms of anything from a bad day to diagnosed disorders. Positive and negative coping strategies that are practiced can lead to an increase or decrease of those symptoms. The current study investigates the relationship between stress and positive and negative coping strategies on levels of detachment-type and compartmentalization-type dissociation in a general undergraduate population. A total of 134 undergraduate students completed a combined survey of assessments measuring detachment and compartmentalization symptoms, coping strategies, and perceived stress levels. Using a multivariate regression analysis, predictive coping strategies were found for individuals experiencing detachment-type or compartmentalization-type dissociation. Individuals experiencing compartmentalization-type dissociation were found to utilize behavioral disengagement, denial, and substance use as coping strategies. Whereas individuals with detachment-type dissociation engage in coping strategies of behavioral disengagement, self-blame, and substance use. The difference in individuals engaging in self-blame versus denial was determined to vary significantly due to symptom categorization. Understanding the effect of coping strategies on detachment-type and compartmentalization-type dissociation highlights the gap in education and resources for using more positive coping strategies. More research is needed to understand the uniqueness between detachment-type and compartmentalization-type dissociation, and which positive coping strategies decrease symptoms under each category.
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