Relations between problem-solving styles and psychological adjustment in young adults: Is stress a mediating variable?

To expand on previous research on problem-focused styles of coping in adults (Heppner, Cook, Wright, & Johnson, 1995), we examined the relations between problem-solving styles and psychological adjustment (viz., life satisfaction and psychological symptoms). We also tested to see if stress may account for any associations between problem-focused styles and psychological adjustment. As expected, problem-focused styles were found to be associated with psychological adjustment. However, using latent variable analyses, stress was not found to wholly mediate the associations between problem-focused styles and psychological adjustment. Reactive style was found to have a direct link with psychological symptoms. Overall, these findings point to the importance of considering problem-focused styles in studies of psychological adjustment.