The Influence Of Psychological Flexibility On Post-stress Growth In Junior Middle School Students And A Case Study:the Intermediary Effect Of Positive Coping Styles And Self-efficacy

This study explored the relationship between psychological flexibility and post-stress growth in junior middle school students and conducts a case study using acceptance and commitment therapy to enrich the intervention pathway of post-stress growth,which has practical implications for the enhancement of adolescents’ psychological literacy.A questionnaire was administered to a sample of 532 junior middle school students using the Adolescent Experience Avoidance and Fusion Questionnaire for Youth(AFQ-Y8),Children’s Post-stress Growth Scale(CPSGS),Brief Coping Style Scale,General Self Efficacy Seal(GSES)as instruments to explore the relationship between psychological flexibility,post-stress growth,positive coping style and self-efficacy in junior middle school students,and to further understand and enrich the influence of psychological flexibility on post-stress growth.The data were analysed using SPSS.Using SPSS to analyse the data,the study found that:(1)The mean scores for psychological flexibility,post-stress growth,positive coping style and self-efficacy were significantly higher for middle school boys than for girls.(2)There was no significant difference in psychological flexibility,positive coping style and self-efficacy among junior high school students by grade level,but there was a significant difference in post-stress growth by grade level,and the mean score of post-stress growth was significantly higher among eighth graders than ninth graders.(3)There were no significant differences in psychological flexibility,post-stress growth,positive coping styles and self-efficacy among junior high school students at different ages.(4)Middle school students’ psychological flexibility was again a significant positive predictor of post-stress growth.Psychological flexibility was positively related to post-stress growth,positive coping style,and self-efficacy,post-stress growth was positively related to positive coping style and self-efficacy,and positive coping style was positively related to self-efficacy.(5)Self-efficacy and positive coping style played a chain mediating role between psychological flexibility and post-stress growth,and this mediating role consisted of three pathways: first,a separate mediating role of positive coping style;second,a separate mediating role of self-efficacy;and third,a chain mediating role of positive coping style-self-efficacy.The mediating effect accounted for 23.92%,19.62%and 20.16% of the total effect,respectively.Based on Study 1,visitors were recruited at the junior high school and a case study was conducted using acceptance and commitment therapy.Visitors who volunteered for counselling and had been significantly affected by a recent stressful event were selected to begin individual counselling sessions once a week for a total of eight sessions after signing an informed consent form and clarifying the counselling setting and the rights and obligations of both parties.The four questionnaires from Study 1 were used for preand post-counselling assessments,and cognitive defusion,mindfulness,self-compassion and values clarification were practised together during sessions to monitor changes of the visitor in psychological flexibility,post-stress growth,positive coping styles and self-efficacy.Combining the self-assessment of the visitors and the observations of the counsellor,it was found that:(1)Acceptance and commitment therapy was effective in enhancing the psychological flexibility,post-stress growth,positive coping styles and self-efficacy of the junior high school visitors in the case intervention.(2)Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps visitors to clarify their value directions and facilitates them to begin to change and take action.