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Self‐change of psychological distress: Laypersons' vs. psychologists' coping strategies
Author(s) -
Norcross John C.,
Prochaska James O.,
Diclemente Carolo C.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/1097-4679(198609)42:5<834::aid-jclp2270420527>3.0.co;2-a
Subject(s) - psychology , coping (psychology) , psychological distress , distress , clinical psychology , interpersonal communication , interpersonal relationship , psychotherapist , mental health , social psychology
This study investigated the change processes that laypersons ( N = 270) and psychologists ( N = 158) reported using to overcome psychological distress. Eighty‐nine percent of the community sample and 82% of the professional sample experienced at least one episode of distress. Interpersonal relationships and willpower strategies were employed commonly in both samples; medication was used infrequently. Gender, education, and previous treatment were related to coping processes among laypersons. A comparative analysis indicated that, relative to laypersons, psychologists exhibited a larger and more varied repertoire of coping strategies.