This study focuses on the role that appraisal of problem-solving skills plays in the relationship of stress to distress. 450 black South African university students completed the Life Experiences Survey, the Problem Solving Inventory, and the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Multiple regression analysis indicated a direct effect for problem-solving appraisal on depression, but no support could be found for the stress-buffering effects of problem-solving appraisal.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
ArnoldH. J. (1972) Moderator variables: a clarification of conceptual, analytic, and psychometric issues. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 29, 143–174.
2.
BluenS. D.OdesnikJ. (1988) Township unrest: development of the Township Life Events Scale. South African Journal of Psychology, 18, 50–57.
3.
CohenJ.CohenP. (1975) Applied multiple regression/correlation analysis for the behavioral sciences. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
4.
DawesA. (1985) Politics and mental health: the position of clinical psychology in South Africa. South African Journal of Psychology, 15, 55–61.
5.
HeppnerP. P. (1986) Problem-solving Inventory manual. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC.
6.
HeppnerP. P.AndersonW. P. (1985) The relationship between problem solving self-appraisal and psychological adjustment. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 9, 415–427.
7.
HeppnerP. P.HibelJ.NealG. W.WeinsteinC. L.RabinowitzF. E. (1982) Personal problem solving: a descriptive study of individual differences. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 29, 580–590.
8.
HeppnerP. P.PetersenC. H. (1982) The development and implications of a personal problem solving inventory. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 29, 66–75.
9.
HeppnerP. P.ReederB. L.LarsonL. M. (1983) Cognitive variables associated with the personal problem-solving styles: implications for counseling. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 30, 537–545.
10.
HinkleL. E. (1974) The effect of exposure to culture change, social changes, and changes in interpersonal relationships on health. In DohrenwendB. S.DohrenwendB. P. (Eds.), Stressful life events: their nature and effects. New York: Wiley. Pp. 9–44.
11.
JohnsonJ. H.SarasonI. G. (1978) Life stress, depression and anxiety: internal-external control as a moderator variable. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 22, 205–208.
12.
KobasaS. C. (1979) Stressful life events, personality and health: an inquiry into hardiness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37, 1–11.
13.
KobasaS. C.MaddiS. R.KhanS. (1982) Hardiness and health: a prospective study. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 42, 168–172.
14.
KobasaS. C.PucettiM. C. (1983) Personality and social resources in stress-resistance. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 45, 839–850.
15.
LefcourtH. M.MillerR. S.WareE. E.SherkD. (1981) Locus of control as a modifier of the relationship between stressors and moods. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 41, 357–369.
16.
MarxE. M.SchulzeC. C. (1991) Interpersonal problem-solving in depressed students. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 47, 361–367.
17.
NezuA. (1985) Differences in psychological distress between effective and ineffective problem solvers. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 32, 135–138.
18.
NezuA. (1986a) Negative life stress and anxiety: problem solving as a moderator variable. Psychological Reports, 58, 279–283.
19.
NezuA. (1986b) Social problem solving as a moderating variable between negative life stress and depressive symptoms. Cognitive Research & Therapy, 10, 489–498.
20.
NezuA.RonanG. F. (1985) Life stress, current problems, problem solving and depressive symptoms: an integrative model. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53, 693–697.
21.
NicholasL. (1989) Socio-economic circumstances of the UWC student. Center for Student Counseling Publication, Univer. of the Western Cape, South Africa.
22.
PretoriusT. B. (1991a) Cross-cultural application of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale: a study of black South African students. Psychological Reports, 69, 1179–1185.
23.
PretoriusT. B. (1991b) Normative and psychometric data on research questionnaires used at UWC. Psychology Resource Centre Publication, Univer. of the Western Cape, South Africa.
24.
RadloffL. S. (1975) Sex differences in depression: the effects of occupation and marital status. Sex Roles, 1, 249–265.
25.
SarasonI. G.JohnsonJ. H.SiegelJ. M. (1978) Assessing the impact of life changes: development of the Life Experiences Survey. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 46, 932–946.
26.
SwartzL.ElkR.TegginA. F.GillisL. S. (1983) Life events in Xhosas in Cape Town. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 27, 223–231.
27.
Van der SpuyH. I. J. (1978) Psychology of apartheid. Washington, DC: Univer. Press of America.
28.
VogelmanL. (1968) Apartheid and mental health. Organisation for Appropriate Social Services in South Africa National Conference Proceedings, 1, 3–11.
