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The Home Environment as a Resource of Coping Behaviour in Youth
In the following paper we discuss the resource approach to coping behavior. We emphasize that parameters of the home environment (home attachment, functionality and relevance of the home environment) can be considered major resources of a personality’s coping in youth (along with different resources of coping behaviour – personal, cognitive, social, cultural and others). They are the underlying parameters forming a home environment image.
The sample consisted of 344 participants (267 females and 77 males), students of different faculties of the Higher School of Economics. We used the Functionality of the Home Environment Questionnaire, the Relevance of the Home Environment Questionnaire, the Home Attachment Questionnaire, and the Ways of Coping Questionnaire.
The results of the factor analysis allowed us to select a positive image of the home environment based on the parameters of functionality and the relevance of the home environment, as well as home attachment. These parameters are an important resource for coping behaviour in youth. The results of the correlation analysis showed that a positive image of the home environment is correlated with efficient strategies of self-control, seeking social support, planned problem solving, and positive reappraisal, and also with an inefficient strategy of confrontive coping.
The study’s results can be used in psychological counseling to form individual profiles of the home environment preferences. They can be helpful in modeling or altering home spaces in accordance with a person’s needs and expectations and therefore, use the home environment as one of the main resources for coping behaviour and psychological well-being.