Perceived past, present, and future control and adjustment to stressful life events.

Abstract

Perceived control is a central construct in psychology and is key to understanding individual differences in poststress outcomes (Frazier, Berman, & Steward, 2001). The goals of the current studies (using 4 samples of undergraduate students, total N = 1,421) were to examine the relations between different aspects of perceived control and poststress outcomes and to differentiate perceived control over specific events from related constructs (i.e., general control beliefs, coping strategies). To accomplish these goals, we first developed a new measure of perceived past, present, and future control over stressful life events. The data supported the content validity, factor structure, internal consistency and test-retest reliability, and convergent and discriminant validity of the new measure. Consistent with the temporal model of control (Frazier et al., 2001), these 3 forms of control had very different relations with adjustment. Present control was consistently related to lower distress levels in cross-sectional, longitudinal, and prospective analyses. Present control also predicted outcomes beyond the effects of general control beliefs and coping strategies. Past and future control had nonsignificant or positive relations with distress, although future control was associated with better outcomes (i.e., course grades) when the stressor was controllable. Thus, our measure can be used to assess the relations between perceived past, present, and future control and outcomes across a range of stressors. Because the relations between these 3 forms of control and outcomes differ markedly, measures that combine these aspects of control hinder the understanding of the important role of perceived control in adjustment to stress.

Creencias desadaptativas, estilos de afrontamiento y apoyo social como factores predictores de la vulnerabilidad psicopatológica en mujeres víctimas de agresión sexual

“…According to some authors (Frazier, 2003;Frazier, Keenan et al, 2011;Frazier, Mortensen, & Steward, 2005;Najdowski & Ullman, 2009;Walsh & Bruce, 2011) the present control or control over the recovery has been a predictor factor of protection, confirming the research's hypothesis.…”

“…De acuerdo con algunos autores (Frazier, 2003;Frazier, Keenan et al, 2011;Frazier et al, 2005;Najdowski y Ullman, 2009;Walsh y Bruce, 2011) el control presente o control sobre la recuperación ha resultado ser un factor predictor de protección, confirmando la hipótesis del estudio.…”

“…Se esperaba que la creencia en un control futuro o la realización de conductas preventivas fuera un factor predictor de mayor sintomatología, de acuerdo con otras investigaciones (Frazier, Keenan et al, 2011;Walsh y Bruce, 2011). Se confirma esta hipótesis, ya que ha resultado ser factor predictor del TEPT y de la inadaptación general total.…”

“…Se confirma esta hipótesis, ya que ha resultado ser factor predictor del TEPT y de la inadaptación general total. Frazier, Keenan et al (2011) explican que el hecho de que algunas personas se centren en la necesidad de prevenir un suceso poco controlable no supone una buena estrategia de ayuda.…”

“…Por último, en relación con los instrumentos de evaluación, se escogió el Cuestionario RAQ (Frazier, 2003) para la medida de la variable culpa, ya que ha sido empleado en numerosos estudios con víctimas de agresiones sexuales (Frazier, 2003;Frazier, Keenan et al, 2011;Frazier et al, 2005;Koss et al, 2002;Ullman, Towsend et al, 2007;Walsh y Bruce, 2011). Sin embargo, este cuestionario solo mide uno de los componentes de la culpa, la conducta de culpa, y no tiene en cuenta la culpa caracterológica, por lo que sería conveniente incluir en siguientes investigaciones este segundo componente.…”