Abstract

The problem. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between healthy individuals, as defined by amount of personal meaning , and coping styles in adults. ;Method. One hundred thirteen adult volunteers were administered three questionnaires. The Life Attitude Profile Inventory was used to assess personal meaning, and the Coping Orientations and Prototypes Inventory was used to assess individual coping styles. A demographic questionnaire was used to collect demographics. The research design incorporated correlation, t-test, and multiple regression analyses. ;Results. Results of the research revealed a positive correlation between personal meaning and three out of the four coping orientations; Reliance Coping , Religious Coping , and Accommodation Coping positively correlated with personal meaning. Active Withdrawal Coping did not correlate with personal meaning. ;Additional information was examined, and a student's t-test was used to discover gender differences in reported personal meaning and coping styles. Females used Reliance Coping significantly more than males. ;A multiple correlation analysis was used to determine in greater detail what particular life attitudes predict specific coping orientations. Future Meaning to Fulfill predicts for Reliance Coping. Existential Vacuum and lack of Life Control predict for Active Withdrawal Coping. Will to Meaning and lack of Life Control predict for Religious Coping. Will to Meaning, Life Purpose and lack of education predict for Accommodation Coping. ;Results of the study supported the proposition that personal meaning appears to be a valid index of coping