A Comparison of Role Strain and Coping Strategies by Gender and Family Structure among Early Adolescents

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Abstract
This study examined differences in peer and family role strain and use of coping strategies by gender and family structure using data from a sample of 203 eighth-grade early adolescents. Post hoc ANOVA results indicated significant differences among early adolescent males and females on level of role strain experienced as family members and in use of Social Support and Ventilation factors as coping strategies. Female adolescents experienced significantly greater family role strain than did males. Female early adolescents reported using Social Support significantly more often and Ventilation significantly less often than did their male counterparts. Data analysis also revealed that adolescents in single-parent families used Family Support to cope with stress significantly less often than did adolescents in two-parent families. The implications of these findings are identified and discussed and directions for future research are suggested.