Young People and Their Resources

Abstract

The resources young people bring to the tasks of managing stress are considered to be key factors in coping with their circumstances. Development of a measurement instrument is necessary in the study of these resources. Steven Hobfoll, in research on the Conservation of Resources theory, developed the Conservation of Resources Evaluation to measure the resources of his adult respondents in numerous studies. This instrument was modified to investigate its applicability to young people in an Australian school context. The modified resource measure was validated and a relationship was found between the degree to which students held the resources considered, and the coping styles the students used. The young people high in resources tended to use productive coping strategies, while those low in resources tended to use nonproductive coping strategies. It appears that those low in resources were also likely to report that they did not have the skills required to cope with their difficulties. The implications of the findings are considered for educators involved in programs directed at the social and emotional needs of young people.