The Relationship between Cognitive Appraisals and Social Problem Solving with Coping Styles with Stressful Factors in University Students

Purpose: The aim of this research was determining the relationship between cognitive appraisals and social problem solving with coping styles with stressful factors in university students. Methodology: The present study was cross-sectional from type of correlation. The research population was all undergraduate students of Islamic Azad University of Saveh branch in 2019-2020 academic years. There were 418 of them the sample size was calculated according to Cochranchr('39')s formula 220 people who were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling method. The research tools were the questionnaires of cognitive appraisals (Folkman & Lazarus, 1985), social problem solving (D’Zurilla & et al, 2002) and coping styles with stressful factors (Endler & Parker, 1990). Data were analyzed by structural equation modeling method with using path analysis in LISREL-8.8 software. Findings: The findings showed that the primary appraisals had a significant negative effect on problem-oriented style and a significant positive effect on emotion-oriented and avoidance styles, secondary appraisals had a significant positive effect on problem-oriented style and a significant negative effect on emotion-oriented and avoidance styles, adaptive social problem solving had a significant positive effect on problem-oriented style and a significant negative effect on emotion-oriented and avoidance styles and maladaptive social problem solving had a significant negative effect on problem-oriented style and a significant positive effect on emotion-oriented style (P<0.05), but maladaptive social problem solving had no significant effect on avoidance style (P>0.05). Conclusion: Based on the results, to improve coping styles with stressful factors (increase problem-oriented style and decrease emotion-oriented and avoidance styles) can be designed and implemented programs to increase secondary cognitive appraisals and adaptive social problem solving and decrease primary cognitive appraisals and maladaptive social problem solving.