Coping strategies and well-being among young Polish adults: the mediating role of inner dialogues.

Abstract

Background: In previous research, the fourteen coping strategies proposed by Carver have been assigned to two categories: adaptive (planning, active coping, positive reframing, acceptance, using emotional and instrumental support, religion, and humor) and maladaptive (self-blame, denial, self-distraction, venting, behavioral disengagement, and substance use). Some studies have shown that the former correlate positively, while the latter correlate negatively with psychological well-being. The initiation of coping strategies seems to co-occur with the experience of uncertainty, which is typically accompanied by an inner dialogue. Different types of inner dialogues are related to well-being in different ways. This study aims to test whether identity and ruminative inner dialogues mediate the relationship between coping strategies and well-being.

Participants and procedure: Convenience sampling was used. The study was conducted through an online survey. Participants were 337 young adults (181 women and 156 men) aged 20-35 years. They completed the Brief-COPE Inventory, Psychological Well-Being Scale, and Internal Dialogical Activity Scale-Revised.

Results: It was found that ruminative inner dialogues mediate negative relationships between maladaptive coping strategies and well-being. Identity inner dialogues are mediators of positive relationships between adaptive coping strategies and well-being, with the exception of humor and using emotional support.

Conclusions: These findings can be used by mental health professionals in counseling and therapy. To enhance clients' well-being, it is essential to strengthen their identity internal dialogues (associated with adaptive coping) and reduce their ruminative internal dialogues (associated with maladaptive strategies).