Bidirectional relations between avoidant coping and dependent stressors in college students

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Determining the relations between risk factors of psychopathology in college students, such as avoidant coping and dependent stressors, could benefit well-being and educational outcomes. However, current research is limited in describing the bidirectional relations between these variables over time and within individuals. The current study aimed to longitudinally test the bidirectional relations between avoidant coping and dependent stressors in college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Participants were from two university sites, with 299 participants from Site 1 and 154 from Site 2. Participants completed an online survey followed by biweekly online surveys during an eight-week period. Surveys contained questions measuring avoidant coping and number of dependent stressors experienced. Random intercept cross-lagged panel models were analyzed at both sites. RESULTS: At both sites, students with higher avoidant coping also reported more dependent stressors overall, but dependent stressors did not predict future avoidant coping. When an individual reported increased use of avoidant coping, they reported increases in the number of dependent stressors they experienced two weeks later, with partial replication across sites. CONCLUSION: Avoidant coping is associated with stressor generation across individuals and within individuals over time. Resources that help reduce avoidant coping may also reduce experiences of dependent stressors.