Self-appraised problem-solving ability, affective states, and psychological distress.

Abstract

According to the social problem-solving model, a positive problem orientation wards off negative affect and promotes positive affect to enhance problem solving. It was hypothesized that the Problem-Solving Confidence and Personal Control factors on the Problem-Solving Inventory (Heppner, 1988) constitute facets of the problem orientation component; therefore, these variables should be significantly associated with negative affect, positive affect, and psychological distress over time. In a series of studies, a positive problem orientation was prospectively associated with greater positive and lower negative affect under a variety of conditions. However, the relation of the problem orientation variables to distress appeared to be mediated by trait affectivity. Results are interpreted in light of the social problem-solving model, and implications for counseling are discussed.Self-appraised problem-solving ability theoretically serves a vital function in the way in which a person processes information about the self, the environment, and problematic situations encountered in everyday life (Heppner & Krauskopf, 1987). This variable was derived from the problem-solving model of D'Zurilla and Goldfried (1971), which delineated the problem-solving process into five general stages: (a) problem orientation stage, (b) problem definition and formulation, (c) generation of alternatives, (d) decision making, and (e) verification. Intervention research grounded in this framework has demonstrated effectiveness for a variety of therapeutic issues, including study skills (Richards & Perri, 1978), depression (Nezu, 1986), and suicidal ideation (Lerner & Clum, 1990). It is unfortunate that an early attempt to develop a measure of personal problem solving revealed a three-factor solution from the original pool of items rather than the five postulated in the D'Zurilla model (Heppner & Peterson, 1982). Thus, the Problem-Solving Inventory (PSI; Heppner, 1988) measures self-appraised abilities in regulating emotional experiences in problem-solving situations (the Personal Control factor; PC), the degree of confidence in problemsolving abilities (the Problem-Solving Confidence factor; PSC), and use of specific problem-solving skills (the Approach-Avoidance factor; AA).

Self-appraised problem-solving skills and the prediction of secondary complications among persons with spinal cord injuries

“…Nevertheless, our findings are supportive of recent attempts to integrate descriptive PSI re-search with current notions of social problem solving (e.g., Elliott et al, 1995). As expected from this integrative model, elements of the problem orientation component were unrelated to the occurrence of secondary complications.…”

“…As expected from this integrative model, elements of the problem orientation component were unrelated to the occurrence of secondary complications. While this component serves as the motivational set for problem solving, it should be correlated primarily with adaptive attitudes of the self and the environment and with self-report variables with an affective dimension (Elliott et al, 1995). The development of a secondary complication after SCI, however, was believed to be an indicator of poor cognitive-behavioral strategies subsumed by the problem-solving skills component.…”

“…A negative problem orientation among persons with SCI is predictive of greater depression and psychosocial impairment secondary to the disability (Elliott, Godshall, Herrick, Witty, & Spruell, 1991). Other research has found a positive orientation to be associated with greater positive mood and less negative mood under general and stressful conditions (Elliott, Sherwin, Harkins, & Marmarosh, 1995) and with less hopelessness, depression, and pain-related suffering among persons with chronic low back pain (Witty & Bernard, 1994). The influence of a positive problem orientation on ongoing positive and negative affects has been linked with lower levels of peripartum and postpartum depression (Elliott, Shewchuk, Richeson, Pickelman, & Weaver-Franklin, 1994).…”

Predicting Occupational Strain and Job Satisfaction: The Role of Stress, Coping, Personality, and Affectivity Variables

“…It is probable that this estimate would be higher if coping strategies were divided into emotion based versus problem based, or engagement versus disengagement (Long, 1993). There is already evidence in the literature that NA is associated with emotion-based strategies and PA with problem based strategies (Elliott et al, 1995). The OSI has four coping subscales -recreation, self-care, social support, rational/cognitive -which cannot easily be separated into these two categories.…”

“…One might expect PA to be negatively correlated with both stress and strain. Some evidence for this is found in research showing that higher levels of positive affect enhance creative problem solving (Isen, Daubman, & Nowicki, 1987) and that PA is associated with positive problem solving approaches (Elliott, Sherwin, Harkins, & Marmaroush, 1995). Cropanzano, James, and Konovsky (1993) studied the effects of both PA and NA on organizational commitment, turnover, job satisfaction, and performance.…”