Impatience-aggression, competitiveness and avoidant coping: direct and moderating effects on maladjustment among adolescents

This study examined how maladjustment, as measured by anxiety and depression symptoms (ANX/DEP), was predicted by dimensions of Type A behavior pattern (TABP) and avoidant coping style. In all, 468 male and female subjects between 14–17 years of age completed questionnaires covering avoidant coping, ANX/DEP and the TABP dimensions of impatience-aggression and competitiveness. Results indicated that both the TABP dimensions and avoidant coping directly and independently predicted ANX/DEP. While impatience-aggression did not moderate the relation between avoidant coping and ANX/DEP, competitiveness moderated (buffered) this relation, especially among older females. These findings are discussed in terms of how age, gender, TABP dimensions and avoidant coping are related to adolescent maladjustment.