The role of coping strategies and resilience in the perception of well-being among school-aged children

Several studies showed that individuals perceiving themselves as resilient are more likely to experience a sense of well-being. However, few studies assessed how coping styles chosen and used by children in facing daily difficulties can be associated with resilience and, consequently, with perceived well-being in this age group. The present study investigated the role played by coping strategies and resilience in the perception of well-being among school-aged children. A total of 335 children (188 boys), attending the 4th and 5th grade of primary school (M = 10 years; SD = 7 months), participated in the study and were asked to complete self-report questionnaires on the target constructs. Correlation analyses confirmed a significant association between the perception of well-being and resilience. In addition, resilience and well-being were positively related to adaptive coping strategies, and negatively associated with maladaptive strategies. Mediation analyses revealed that resilience partially mediates the relationship between internalizing coping strategies and perception of well-being. Therefore, to promote well-being and resilience in primary school, guiding children towards the use of adaptive coping strategies and discouraging dysfunctional strategies could prove effective.