Self-efficacy, reflection and resources of coping with stress: age-related features and determination

Abstract

Stressful conditions of modern human existence direct scholars to search for protective factors and study the resources of coping with stress, as well as study the factors of their formation. Reflexivity and self-efficacy are considered to be personal resources connected with the process of adaptation, however the question of their connection with various variants of resources remains unstudied. The findings on self-efficacy, reflexivity and coping resources in adolescents, young adults and mature adults are presented in the article, their links shown. 53 adolescent, 113 adolescents and 124 mature respondents participated in the study. Survey method and methods of mathematical statistics were used. It was found that self-efficacy lacks age-specificity; all the respondents are of good adaptive level. Age significantly correlates with capacity for situational reflection. Social support and physical health are priority stress-coping resources for respondents of any age. Self-efficacy has direct links to all stress-coping resources; it predicts and predetermines their awareness and growth. It is found that communication reflexivity does negatively effect problem-solving confidence and physical health resources in young adults; whereas in mature adults, it increases the role of social support and stress control resources. Adult retrospective reflection negatively affects confidence and the "self-direction" resource. Reflexivity predicts the "tension control" resource, whereas communication reflexivity determines a subject's ability to manage its resources in a stressful situation.