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Teaching young people to cope: Benefits and gains for at risk students

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 October 2015

Erica Frydenberg ,
Kerry Bugalski ,
Nola Firth ,
Shane Kamsner  and
Charles Poole
Erica Frydenberg*
Affiliation:
The University of Melbourne
Kerry Bugalski
Affiliation:
The University of Melbourne
Nola Firth
Affiliation:
The University of Melbourne
Shane Kamsner
Affiliation:
The University of Melbourne
Charles Poole
Affiliation:
The University of Melbourne
*
Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne, Carlton, VICTORIA, 3010, Email: e.frydenberg@unimelb.edu.au
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Abstract

This paper reports on three studies, which collectively demonstrate the benefits of a coping skills program, first for young people at risk for depression, then those with learning problems likely to suffer failure at school. In particular, the first study deals with the usefulness of the Best of Coping (BOC) program in a regular school setting for students at different levels of risk of developing depression. Studies two and three report the benefits of an adapted version of the BOC program (BOCM) for students who experience learning difficulties. Successful intervention with the BOCM was found to help low achieving students and students with learning difficulties develop productive coping skills, but also increased positive attitudes towards seeking help from others and decreasing dependence on Non-Productive coping strategies.

Keywords

At risk studentsCoping
Type
Research Article
Information
The Educational and Developmental Psychologist , Volume 23 , Issue 1 , 2006 , pp. 91 - 110
Copyright
Copyright © Australian Psychological Society 2006

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