Direct and crossover effects of prosocial and antisocial coping behaviors.

The relationship of antisocial and prosocial coping behaviors to individual and relationship well-being was prospectively examined in a sample of fire-emergency workers (FEWs) and their marital or romantic partners (69 couples). Results of hierarchical multiple regression equations indicated that FEWs' antisocial coping was related to higher levels of depressive symptoms. Prosocial coping was related to decreased anger expression and increased relationship adjustment. Partners' prosocial coping was a significant predictor of FEWs' reports of better relationship adjustment. For partners, prosocial coping was positively related to their relationship adjustment. FEWs' coping was unrelated to partners' outcome. Results for the FEWs support the notion that coping has direct and crossover effects. Moreover, results indicate that prosocial and antisocial coping behaviors have differential effects on well-being.