Gender and Age Differences in Negative Problem Orientation among Palestinian Adolescents

Main Article Content

Khalil Aburezeq
Kasik László

Abstract

A crucial concept in our understanding of deficiencies in daily life is negative problem orientation, which is a collection of dysfunctional attitudes toward social problem-solving. Until recently, measuring negative problem orientation as a one-factor questionnaire, other than as a subscale in a measure of problem-solving ability, was still rare. This study aimed to find gender and age differences among 12-, 15-, and 18-year-old Palestinian adolescents. A descriptive-analytical approach was adopted. Four hundred and ten adolescents were recruited to respond to the Negative Orientation Questionnaire (NEGORI) questionnaire. The study revealed no differences between Palestinian boys and girls at the age of 12 in the following factors: negative consequences, negative self-efficacy, and habits/patterns. However, fending off the problem, positive consequences, and waiting were more typical among 12-year-old Palestinian girls. In addition, no differences between Palestinian boys and girls at the ages of 15 and 18 were found in fending off the problems, positive consequences, habit/pattern, and waiting. However, the results showed that the negative consequences factor was more typical among 15- and 18-year-old Palestinian girls. Furthermore, no age differences among Palestinian adolescents were reported in the NEGORI factors.

Article Details

Section
Research Articles

References

Abu Taha, M., & Aburezeq, K. (2018). Oral communication apprehension among English senior majors at Al-Quds Open University in Palestine. International Journal of Research in English Education, 3(1), 44–58. https://ijreeonline.com/article-1-79-en.html

Aburezeq, K., & Kasik, L. (2021a). The social problem solving inventory–revised as a measurement of individuals' social problems solving: Review of modern literature. Romanian Journal of Psychological Studies, 9(1), 14–25.‏ http://publicatio.bibl.u-szeged.hu/21056/1/RJPS_nr_91_2021_A2_Aburezeq-Kasik.pdf

Aburezeq, K., & Kasik, L. (2021b). The relationship between social problem solving and psychological well-being: A literature review. Romanian Journal of Psychological Studies, 9 (special issue). http://rjps.hyperion.ro/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/RJPS-vol9-special_issue-full-2021.pdf#page=4

Aburezeq, K., & Kasik, L. (2021c). The psychometric properties for the Arabic version of the questionnaire of adolescents' negative orientation of social problem (NEGORI). Journal of Studies in Language, Culture, and Society (JSLCS), 4(2), 1–18. https://www.asjp.cerist.dz/en/downArticle/681/4/2/178411

Aburezeq, K., & Kasik, L. (2022). The characteristics of social problem-solving among Palestinian adolescents. Hungarian Educational Research Journal, 1–15.‏ https://doi.org/10.1556/063.2022.00130

Balsamo, M. (2013). Personality and depression: evidence of a possible mediating role for anger trait in the relationship between cooperativeness and depression. Comprehensive psychiatry, 54(1), 46–52.‏

Barahmand, U. (2008). Age and gender differences in adolescent worry. Personality and Individual Differences, 45(8), 778–783. https://doi:10.1016/j.paid.2008.08.006

Bell, A. C., & D’Zurilla, T. J. (2009). Problem-solving therapy for depression: Meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 29(4), 348–353. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2009.02.003

Blakemore, S., Burnett, S., & Dahl, R. (2010). The role of puberty in the developing adolescent brain. Human brain mapping, 31(6), 926–933. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20496383/

Brothers, L. (1999). The social brain: A project for integrating primate behavior and neurophysiology in a new domain. Concepts Neuroscience, 1, 27–51. https://cir.nii.ac.jp/crid/1571980076286952832

Casey, B. J., Getz, S., & Galvan, A. (2008). The adolescent brain. Developmental Review, 28(1), 62–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2007.08.003

Chang, E. C.,  Sanna, L. J. (2001). Optimism, pessimism, and positive and negative affectivity in middle-aged adults: A test of a cognitive-affective model of psychological adjustment. Psychology and Aging, 16(3), 524–531. https://doi: 10.1037//0882-7974.16.3.524

Chang, E. C., D’Zurilla, T. J., & Sanna, L. J. (2004). Social problem solving: Theory, research, and training. American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/10805-000

Ciarrochi, J., Leeson, P., & Heaven, P. C (2009). A longitudinal study into the interplay between problem orientation and adolescent well-being. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 56(3), 441–449. https://doiI:10.1037/a0015765

Collins, W., & Laursen, B. (2004). Parent-adolescent relationships and influences. In R. M. Lerner & L. Steinberg (Eds.), Handbook of Adolescent Psychology, (pp. 331–3620). https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/ 10.1002/9780471726746

Dupuy, J. B., & Ladouceur, R. (2008). Cognitive processes of generalized anxiety disorder in comorbid generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 22(3), 505–514. https://doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2007.05.010

D'Zurilla, T. J., & Maydeu-Olivares, A. (1995). Conceptual and methodological issues in social problem-solving assessment. Behavior Therapy, 26(3), 409–432.

D’Zurilla, T. J., & Nezu, A. M. (1999). Problem-solving therapy: A social competence approach to clinical intervention (2nd ed.). Springer.

D’Zurilla, T. J., & Nezu, A. M. (2006). Problem-solving therapy: A positive approach to clinical Intervention (3rd ed.). Springer Publishing.

D’Zurilla, T. J., Nezu, A., & Maydeu-Olivares, A. (2002). Social problem-solving inventory–revised (SPSI–R): Technical manual. Multi-Health Systems.

D'Zurilla, T. J., Nezu, A. M., Maydeu-Olivare, A., & Olivares, A. (2002). Social problem-solving inventory-Revised (SPSI-R): Manual. Multi-Health Systems.

D'Zurilla, T. J., Nezu, A. M., & Maydeu-Olivares, A. (2004). Social problem solving: Theory and assessment‏. In E. C. Chang, T. J. D'Zurilla, & L. J. Sanna (Eds.), Social problem solving: Theory, research, and training (pp. 11–27). American Psychological Association.

El-Ghosain, S. (2008). The psychosocial development among preparatory school students and its relationship to their social problem solving skills [Unpublished Master’s thesis]. The Islamic University, Gaza.

Eskin, M. (2013). Problem solving therapy in the clinical practice. Elsevier Insights.

Frauenknecht, M., & Black, D. (2010). Is it social problem solving or decision making? Implications for health education. American Journal of Health Education, 41(2), 112–123. https://doi.org/10.1080/19325037.2010. 10599135

Grusec, J. E., & Davidov, M. (2007). Socialization in the family: The roles of parents. In J. Grusec & P. Hastings (Eds.), Handbook of socialization (pp. 284–308). Guildford Press.

Heppner, P. P., Witty, T. E., & Dixon, W. A. (2004). Problem-solving appraisal and human adjustment: A review of 20 years of research using the problem solving inventory. The Counseling Psychologist, 32(3), 344–428. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000003262793

Kasik, L. (2015). Relationship between cooperation, competition and family background at the ages of 8–18 in a Hungarian context. Hungarian Educational Research Journal, (5)1, 25–41.

Kasik, L., Gál, Z., & Tóth, E. (2018). Development and psychometric properties of NEGORI (Negative Orientation Questionnaire). Journal of Relationships Research, 9, e8. https://doi.org/10.1017/jrr.2018.7

Konstantellou, A., Campbell, M., Eisler, I., Simic, M., &Treasure, J. (2011). Testing a cognitive model of generalized anxiety disorder in the eating disorders. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 25, 864–869. https://doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2011.04.005

Ladd, G. W. (2005). Children’s peer relations and social competence: A century of progress. Yale University Press.

Laplanche, J., & Pontalis, J. B. (1994). A pszichoanalízis szótára [Dictionary of Psychoanalysis]. Akadémia Kiadó.

Nezu, A. M. (2004). Problem solving and behavior therapy revisited. Behavior Therapy, 35(1), 1–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7894(04)80002-9

Nezu, A. M., Nezu, C. M., & D'Zurilla, T. (2012). Problem-solving therapy: A treatment manual. Springer Publishing Company.

Romano, M., Moscovitch, D. A, Ma, R., & Huppert, J. D. (2019). Social problem solving in social anxiety disorder. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 68, 102152. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31704632/

Scheier, M. F., Weintraub, J. K., & Carver, C. S. (1986). Coping with stress: Divergent strategies of optimists and pessimists. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51(6), 1257–1264. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.51.6.1257

Strough, J. & Keener, E. (2013). Interpersonal problem solving across the life span. In P. Verhaeghen, P. & C. Hertzog (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of emotion, social cognition, and everyday problem solving during adulthood. Oxford University Press, The Oxford Library of Psychology Series.

Szabó, É., Zsadányi, Z. S., & Szabó Hangya, L. (2015). Ki szeret iskolába járni? Az iskolai kötődés, a motiváció, az énhatékonyság és a tanulmányifelelősség-vállalás vizsgálata [Who likes going to school? Examining school attachment, motivation, self-efficacy and academic responsibility]. Iskolakultúra, 25(10), 5–20.