Developing coping typologies of minority adolescents: A latent profile analysis

Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to develop a coping typology of minority adolescents (M = 15.5 years). A multiethnic sample (n = 354) was recruited from a program aimed at serving low-income students. LPA revealed three distinct coping profiles. The first comprised adolescents who used a number of specific coping strategies at a low level (low generic copers). The second comprised adolescents who emphasized active/approach strategies (e.g., planning; active copers). The third comprised adolescents who emphasized avoidant/passive strategies (e.g., substance abuse; avoidant copers). Active copers experienced significantly less depression and more stress-related growth than low generic copers. Low generic copers not only experienced significantly less depression than avoidant copers but also significantly less stressrelated growth than active copers. Discussion focuses on integrating the current typology with traditional coping taxomonies. (c) 2007 The Association for Professionals in Services for Adolescents. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.