Coping strategies, dysfunctional attitudes and psychological well-being in white collar public sector employees

The findings of an interviewer-supervised, self-completion questionnaire survey involving a sample of 274 white collar public sector employees are reported. The survey examined the reported use of coping strategies and perceptions measured by a version of the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (Beck et al. 1991). Main and interaction effects involving coping strategies and dysfunctional attitudes were then used to predict psychological well-being measures (General Health Questionnaire and Beck Depression Inventory). The results suggested that the use of avoidance coping was associated with lower well-being, while the use of problem-oriented coping methods was associated with better mental health. Dysfunctional attitudes relating to vulnerability, impression management, need for approval and success-perfectionism were also found to be associated with the measures of mental well-being. It is suggested that such dysfunctional attitudes may reflect stable analogues of primary appraisal.