Self-coping complexity: The role of relational, individual and collective self-aspects and corresponding coping styles in stress and health

A geographically diverse western adult sample (n=546) from Australia, New Zealand, the British Isles and North America reported comparable self-aspects, coping styles, recent stress and health states. Latent class analysis identified 3 cluster groups characterized by strong (n=231), medium (168) and weak (n = 147) patterns of self and coping, or Self-Coping Complexity (SCC). All SCC clusters reported similar recent stress and physical health, but the Low SCC group reported the poorest social, emotional, cognitive and sexual well-being, while the Medium and High SCC groups reported the greatest well-being. In the face of comparable stress, those with greater SCC enjoyed better psychosocial health.