Impatience-aggression, competitiveness and avoidant coping: direct and moderating effects on maladjustment among adolescents

This study examined how maladjustment, as measured by anxiety and depression symptoms (ANX/DEP), was predicted by dimensions of Type A behavior pattern (TABP) and avoidant coping style. In all, 468 male and female subjects between 14-17 years of age completed questionnaires covering avoidant coping, ANX/DEP and the TARP dimensions of impatience-aggression and competitiveness. Results indicated that both the TABP dimensions and avoidant coping directly and independently predicted ANX/DEP. While impatience-aggression did not moderate the relation between avoidant coping and ANX/DEP, competitiveness moderated (buffered) this relation, especially among older females. These findings are discussed in terms of how age, gender, TABP dimensions and avoidant coping are related to adolescent maladjustment. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.