THE EFFECT OF COPING ON THE FEELING OF SUBJECTIVE SECURITY OF PERSONALITY

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine coping strategies as factors contributing to the formation of the feeling of subjective security of personality in two contrasting stress situations. Persons in life threatening situations (n = 320) and situations of threat to self-actualization (n = 320) were investigated. Using correlation analysis the protective role of coping strategies was determined. Protective factors in the life threatening situations are the strategies of problem analysis (r = 0,20; p < 0,01), solution of the problem (r = 0,20; p < 0,01) and ignoring the problem (r = 0,18; p < 0,01), self-control (r = 0,14; p = 0,01) and waiting for help (r = 0,18; p < 0,01), in the threat to self-actualization — the strategies of focusing on the positive (r = 0,12; p = 0,04) and seeking social support (r = 0,14; p = 0,01). By means of the structural equation modeling two path diagrams were built. The model for situations of threat to self-actualization was characterized by good absolute fit indices (х2/df = 1,67; RMSEA = 0,05; SRMR = 0,04) and satisfactory relative fit indices (NFI = 0,90; NNFI = 0,94; CFI = 0,96). The model for life threatening situations was characterized by satisfactory absolute fit indices (х2/df = 2,10; RMSEA = 0,06; SRMR = 0,04) and good relative fit indices (NFI = 0,94; NNFI = 0,95; CFI = 0,97). It was found that the threat of self-actualization stress in a very small extent appealed to the sense of personal security of the individual, as this situation did not really hurt the basic needs of the individual, as opposed to life threatening situations. In the latter case, the use of coping strategies that require effort helps reduce internal stress by decreasing their significance. While avoidance coping allows focusing on the danger posed by these situations.