Zimmerman, Mel (2012) Social Problem-Solving: Mediating the Relationship Between Stress and Resilience. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
With stress levels affecting student health, it is important to identify ways to manage their stress. There is limited empirical evidence in relation to resilience research within an adult population. The present study explored social problem-solving as a mediator of the relationship between perceived stress and resilience. Social problem-solving is a concept developed by D’Zurilla and Goldfried (1971) which looks at helping people solve every day problems. Problem-solving was measured by the Problem Solving Inventory (PSI-B), which provides scores for Problem Solving Confidence (PSC), Approach/Avoidance Style (AAS), and Personal Control (PC). Stress was measured by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), which provides a global score for an individual’s current perceived stress. Resilience was measured by the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), which provides a global score for the ability to bounce back from adversity or stress. After failing to find a good fit using path analysis, Baron and Kenny’s (1986) mediation analysis was conducted. Problem-Solving Confidence was found to partially mediate the relationship between Perceived Stress and Resilience using this mediation analysis. Although Problem-Solving Confidence’s unique contribution to resilience was found to be minimal, it had a medium to large association with perceived stress, which needs to be further explored. Of note was the small to medium association the Approach/Avoidance scale had on both stress and resilience. The results show a need to further explore problem-solving orientation in regards to stress and resilience. It would be beneficial to conduct a longitudinal study to establish causation, reciprocal relationships, and possible feedback loops between stress, problem-solving, and resilience, with a focus on intervention.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Psychology (Up to 30 Jun 2013) |
| Supervisors: | Gavin Beccaria |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 14 Oct 2025 03:05 |
| Last Modified: | 14 Oct 2025 03:05 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | resilience ; stress ; problem-solving ; problem-solving orientation |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52909 |
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