Abstract
The purpose of this study was to test the psychological stress model on the relationship among junior high-school friends. Students (n = 523) anonymously completed the school stressors scale (the 6 items on relationships among friends), the cognitive appraisals scale (the 2 subscales on controllability and influence), the stress coping scale (the 3 subscales on positive coping, support seeking and avoidant coping), the stress responses scale (the 4 subscales; on irritated-angry feelings, helplessness, depressive-anxious feelings and physical state) and the perceived social support scale (5 supporters; father, mother, brothers/sisters, teachers, and friends). The results of the analysis of covariance structures based on the Psychological Stress Theory (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984) indicate that the model presented in this study fitted the data well. Moreover, we made the following findings. (1) Cognitive appraisals influenced the selection of coping strategies. (2) Support seeking played an important role in increasing both positive coping and avoidant coping. (3) Avoidant coping increased stress responses directly but positive coping decreased them indirectly. (4) Support seeking increased the sense of controllability of stressors.
