The present study is an attempt to revalidate the Lazarus’ concept of the ways of coping with stress, using an original 66-item version of the Checklist and a revised 50-item version of the scales of 8, in two culturally contrasting samples. Results of responses in each coping strategy, mode, or scale among the Japanese were found to be similar to those of Americans, in that there was no significant difference in each strategy, mode, or scale between two representative samples (adolescents). Despite, some results approached significance, indicating that the Japanese tend to inhibit their actions less facing the stress (showing greater tendency to depend on benevolent others or
Amae), to be less aggressive, hostile or risk taking (cautious or timid), and less wishful thinkers (modest, accepting/adapting well to given situations) than Americans. These results were consistent with previous studies of coping, indicating that there is a reasonable degree of intercultural functional equivalence in the Lazarus’ concept. It was hypothesized that the patterns of responses over the present scales can be used as culture-fair health indexes which could predict the proneness to major somatic diseases, that are applied equally to Americans and Japanese.
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