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ORIGINAL PAPER
Coping Strategies in People Experiencing Violence – The Role of Positive Stress Management Resources
1
Institute of Pedagogy, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, Poland
These authors had equal contribution to this work
Submission date: 2025-02-05
Final revision date: 2025-10-28
Acceptance date: 2025-11-17
Publication date: 2025-12-29
Corresponding author
Magdalena Barabas
Institute of Pedagogy, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, Poland
Institute of Pedagogy, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, Poland
JoMS 2025;64(4):403-417
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Objectives:
The literature has largely focused on the harmful effects of violence and the associated risk factors, while failing to thoroughly examine protective factors that may be related to positive outcomes in people exposed to abuse. Understanding coping strategies used by women and men in violence situations may give new insights into the manners of supporting their effective coping efforts and to the role of their personal resource in this process.
Material and methods:
A cross-sectional study of 54 people experiencing violence and receiving specialised therapeutic care was conducted. Main outcome measures, the Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced (COPE), the Basic Hope Inventory (BHI), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), Positive Orientation Scale (SOP) were used.
Results:
Our study showed that the strategies used most often by participants are planning, positive reinterpretation and growth, and active coping. Higher levels of proactive coping were associated with higher levels of self-efficacy, positive orientation, and basic hope. The strategy of seeking support and focusing on emotions was accounted for by positive orientation.
Conclusions:
The results of the present research can be used for therapeutic purposes as they provide information on the importance of positive stress coping resources in the application of certain coping strategies in people experiencing violence.
The literature has largely focused on the harmful effects of violence and the associated risk factors, while failing to thoroughly examine protective factors that may be related to positive outcomes in people exposed to abuse. Understanding coping strategies used by women and men in violence situations may give new insights into the manners of supporting their effective coping efforts and to the role of their personal resource in this process.
Material and methods:
A cross-sectional study of 54 people experiencing violence and receiving specialised therapeutic care was conducted. Main outcome measures, the Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced (COPE), the Basic Hope Inventory (BHI), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), Positive Orientation Scale (SOP) were used.
Results:
Our study showed that the strategies used most often by participants are planning, positive reinterpretation and growth, and active coping. Higher levels of proactive coping were associated with higher levels of self-efficacy, positive orientation, and basic hope. The strategy of seeking support and focusing on emotions was accounted for by positive orientation.
Conclusions:
The results of the present research can be used for therapeutic purposes as they provide information on the importance of positive stress coping resources in the application of certain coping strategies in people experiencing violence.
License
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