The mediating effect of stress coping between cynical hostility and perceived stress – preliminary findings
Authors: Luiza Sendal, Patryk Krzyżaniak, Aleksandra Raczyńska, Paweł Andrzej Atroszko
Abstract: This study aimed to examine the relationship between cynical hostility and stress coping strategies. On the grounds of previous findings it was suggested that cynical hostility is positively related to ineffective coping strategies and negatively associated with effective coping strategies, especially with regard to use of social support. It was also hypothesised that coping strategies are mediating variables in the relationship between cynical hostility and perceived stress. The study was conducted on 244 university students (including 151 women and 89 men, 4 participants did not report gender). Mean age was M = 21.22 years (SD = 2.80). Valid, reliable and widely used psychometric tools were applied. The results were largely consistent with the hypotheses. Cynical hostility was positively associated with mental disengagement, an ineffective coping mechanism, and negatively associated with effective coping strategies: use of instrumental and emotional social support, positive reframing, planning and turning to religion and spirituality. Stress coping strategies were complete mediators of the relationship between cynical hostility and perceived stress. The results describe a coherent image of a cynically hostile person, who easily disengages in stressful situations, is unable to effectively use social support and has inflexible perception of reality that is associated with inability of positive reframing.
Publ: Research and Development of Young Scientists in Poland. Humanities and social sciences