This article was downloaded by: [Indiana University Libraries] On: 12 May 2015, At: 01:55 Publisher: Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK
Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/urqe20
Coping by Individuals with Physical Disabilities with Perceived Challenge in Physical Activity: Are People Consistent? a
Marcel Bouffard & Peter R. E Crocker
b
a
Department of Physical Education and Sport Studies , University of Alberta , Edmonton , Alberta , Canada b
College of Physical Education , University of Saskatchewan , Saskatoon , Saskatchewan , Canada Published online: 26 Feb 2013.
To cite this article: Marcel Bouffard & Peter R. E Crocker (1992) Coping by Individuals with Physical Disabilities with Perceived Challenge in Physical Activity: Are People Consistent?, Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 63:4, 410-417, DOI: 10.1080/02701367.1992.10608763 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02701367.1992.10608763
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http:// www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions
R....rch Quarterly for Exercl...ndSport e 1992 bytheAmerican Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Vol. 63, No. 4, pp.410-417
Coping by Individuals With Physical Disabilities With Perceived Challenge in Physical Activity: Are People Consistent?
Downloaded by [Indiana University Libraries] at 01:55 12 May 2015
MarcelBouffard andPeter R. E. Crocker This study examined copingand affective experience to perceived challenge in physical activity settings in 30 individuals with physical disabilities in three separate situations over 6 months. On every occasion, each individual was as1red to repurt the most challenpjng physical activityofthe preceding week and indicatehow he or shecQ/Jed with the challmgeand what affective states were experienced. Copingwas measum using a modification of Carver, &heier, and WeintT'aub's (1989) COPE inventory. Self-reported mood was assessed using the Positive AffectNegative AffectSchedule (Watson, Clarlc, & Tellegm, 1988). The data indicated that perceived challmge was characterized by high levels ofpositive affect. ~ability theory, used to determine the relative stability ofcopingstrategies, indicated that individuals with physical disabilities did not consistently use thesamecoping skiU strategies across seUings.
Key words: coping, affect, individuals with physical disabilities
P
ractitioners have advocated regular physical activity as a desirable goal for individuals with physical disabilities (Sherrill & Montelione, 1990) because they think it is related to both psychological and physiological well-being (Wmnick, 1990). Regular involvementin physical activity by individuals with disabilities, however, may be restricted by environmental barriers, personal physical limitations, and psychological constraints. How individuals manage these potential restrictions and the resulting psychological stress have important theoretical and practical implications; however, little is known about how individuals with physical disabilities cope with the challenges presented in physical activity (Crocker & Bouffard, 1990). There is a growing conviction that how individuals cope with stressful situations plays an important mediating role in an individual's physical and psychological well-being at all stages of the life span (Compas, 1987; Folkman & Lazarus, 1980; Miller, Brody, & Summerton, 1988). Although the majority of research on coping has been conducted with community and clinical populations, the importance of coping has been acknowledged
Submitted: April 2, 7997 Revision accepted: April 27, 7992 Marcel Bouffard is anassociate professor intheDepartment of Physical Education andSpottStudies at theUniversity ofAlbetta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Peter R. E. Crocker is anassociate professor inthe College of Physical Education at the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. 410
as a critical factor in stress relations in physical activity settings (Crocker, Alderman, & Smith, 1988; Mace & Carroll, 1989; Smith, 1980). Coping processesare thought to mediate between the perception of environmental demands and persistence, activity choice, emotion, and other behavior in physical activity. Lazarus and Folkman (1984) defined copingas "constantly changing cognitive and behavioral efforts to manage specific external and/or internal demands that are appraised as taxing or exceeding the resources of the person" (p. 141). Although researchers disagree about the number ofnecessary coping dimensions, they appear to agree that there is an important distinction between problem-focused and emotion-focused coping (Endler & Parker, 1989; Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). Problemfocused coping refers to cognitive and behavioral efforts used to change the problem causing the distress. These strategies include problem-solving, planning, information-seeking, learning new skills, and increasing efforts. Emotion-focused coping, on the other hand, involves strategies used to regulate emotional arousal and distress. Strategies in this dimension include mental and behavioral withdrawal, denial, and acceptance. These coping responses represent strategies that mediate between perceived stressful events and outcomes such as negative and positive emotions, somatic problems, and performance. Endler and Parker (1989) suggest that a third dimension, avoidance coping, be considered. Avoidance coping involves strategies such as disengagement from a task-mental and/or behavioral disengagement. The individual's coping response is tied directly to cognitive appraisal processes in numerous theories of stress and emotion (e.g., Lazarus & Folkman, 1984;
ROES: December 1992
Downloaded by [Indiana University Libraries] at 01:55 12 May 2015
Bouffard andCrocker
Mandler, 1984; Meichenbaum, 1985). Lazarus's conceptualization, which served as a guide for the present study, holds that coping is generated in response to the evaluation ofenvironmental or internal demands as well as the evaluation of coping options. This evaluative process is important, for it is the appraisal, not the situation per se, that sets in motion the perception of stress relationships. Lazarus and Folkman (1984) argued that a situation is appraised as stressful when the perceived demands ofthe situation load or exceed the individual's perceived resources. They proposed three primary stressful appraisals: harm/loss, threat, and challenge. Harm/loss refers to physical or psychological harm already
Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/urqe20
Coping by Individuals with Physical Disabilities with Perceived Challenge in Physical Activity: Are People Consistent? a
Marcel Bouffard & Peter R. E Crocker
b
a
Department of Physical Education and Sport Studies , University of Alberta , Edmonton , Alberta , Canada b
College of Physical Education , University of Saskatchewan , Saskatoon , Saskatchewan , Canada Published online: 26 Feb 2013.
To cite this article: Marcel Bouffard & Peter R. E Crocker (1992) Coping by Individuals with Physical Disabilities with Perceived Challenge in Physical Activity: Are People Consistent?, Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 63:4, 410-417, DOI: 10.1080/02701367.1992.10608763 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02701367.1992.10608763
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http:// www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions
R....rch Quarterly for Exercl...ndSport e 1992 bytheAmerican Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Vol. 63, No. 4, pp.410-417
Coping by Individuals With Physical Disabilities With Perceived Challenge in Physical Activity: Are People Consistent?
Downloaded by [Indiana University Libraries] at 01:55 12 May 2015
MarcelBouffard andPeter R. E. Crocker This study examined copingand affective experience to perceived challenge in physical activity settings in 30 individuals with physical disabilities in three separate situations over 6 months. On every occasion, each individual was as1red to repurt the most challenpjng physical activityofthe preceding week and indicatehow he or shecQ/Jed with the challmgeand what affective states were experienced. Copingwas measum using a modification of Carver, &heier, and WeintT'aub's (1989) COPE inventory. Self-reported mood was assessed using the Positive AffectNegative AffectSchedule (Watson, Clarlc, & Tellegm, 1988). The data indicated that perceived challmge was characterized by high levels ofpositive affect. ~ability theory, used to determine the relative stability ofcopingstrategies, indicated that individuals with physical disabilities did not consistently use thesamecoping skiU strategies across seUings.
Key words: coping, affect, individuals with physical disabilities
P
ractitioners have advocated regular physical activity as a desirable goal for individuals with physical disabilities (Sherrill & Montelione, 1990) because they think it is related to both psychological and physiological well-being (Wmnick, 1990). Regular involvementin physical activity by individuals with disabilities, however, may be restricted by environmental barriers, personal physical limitations, and psychological constraints. How individuals manage these potential restrictions and the resulting psychological stress have important theoretical and practical implications; however, little is known about how individuals with physical disabilities cope with the challenges presented in physical activity (Crocker & Bouffard, 1990). There is a growing conviction that how individuals cope with stressful situations plays an important mediating role in an individual's physical and psychological well-being at all stages of the life span (Compas, 1987; Folkman & Lazarus, 1980; Miller, Brody, & Summerton, 1988). Although the majority of research on coping has been conducted with community and clinical populations, the importance of coping has been acknowledged
Submitted: April 2, 7997 Revision accepted: April 27, 7992 Marcel Bouffard is anassociate professor intheDepartment of Physical Education andSpottStudies at theUniversity ofAlbetta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Peter R. E. Crocker is anassociate professor inthe College of Physical Education at the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. 410
as a critical factor in stress relations in physical activity settings (Crocker, Alderman, & Smith, 1988; Mace & Carroll, 1989; Smith, 1980). Coping processesare thought to mediate between the perception of environmental demands and persistence, activity choice, emotion, and other behavior in physical activity. Lazarus and Folkman (1984) defined copingas "constantly changing cognitive and behavioral efforts to manage specific external and/or internal demands that are appraised as taxing or exceeding the resources of the person" (p. 141). Although researchers disagree about the number ofnecessary coping dimensions, they appear to agree that there is an important distinction between problem-focused and emotion-focused coping (Endler & Parker, 1989; Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). Problemfocused coping refers to cognitive and behavioral efforts used to change the problem causing the distress. These strategies include problem-solving, planning, information-seeking, learning new skills, and increasing efforts. Emotion-focused coping, on the other hand, involves strategies used to regulate emotional arousal and distress. Strategies in this dimension include mental and behavioral withdrawal, denial, and acceptance. These coping responses represent strategies that mediate between perceived stressful events and outcomes such as negative and positive emotions, somatic problems, and performance. Endler and Parker (1989) suggest that a third dimension, avoidance coping, be considered. Avoidance coping involves strategies such as disengagement from a task-mental and/or behavioral disengagement. The individual's coping response is tied directly to cognitive appraisal processes in numerous theories of stress and emotion (e.g., Lazarus & Folkman, 1984;
ROES: December 1992
Downloaded by [Indiana University Libraries] at 01:55 12 May 2015
Bouffard andCrocker
Mandler, 1984; Meichenbaum, 1985). Lazarus's conceptualization, which served as a guide for the present study, holds that coping is generated in response to the evaluation ofenvironmental or internal demands as well as the evaluation of coping options. This evaluative process is important, for it is the appraisal, not the situation per se, that sets in motion the perception of stress relationships. Lazarus and Folkman (1984) argued that a situation is appraised as stressful when the perceived demands ofthe situation load or exceed the individual's perceived resources. They proposed three primary stressful appraisals: harm/loss, threat, and challenge. Harm/loss refers to physical or psychological harm already
