The effectiveness of a coping-focused prevention approach: A two-year longitudinal study

This article focuses upon a new preventive approach designed to improve personal stress management skills. The Coping Enhancement Training (CET) is derived from the Couples Coping Enhancement Training (CCET) and encompasses both an individual and a dyadic aspect. In this study, only the individual element is described. The training is based upon the transactional stress concepts of Lazarus and his coworkers and the further development of this approach by Perrez and Reicherts (1992). Personal coping skills are practiced over a six-hour period by means of theoretical, diagnostic and practical work. This article presents the rationale and content of the program, as well as data concerning the effectiveness of this approach after a period of two years. The data shows that subjects participating in the program displayed better individual coping skills (e.g. active problem-solving and positive self-verbalization) after the training and that they relied upon dysfunctional coping strategies (e.g. rumination and blaming strategies) less often even after two years.