Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Social Problem Solving as a Predictor of Well-being in Adolescents and Young Adults

  • Published:
Social Indicators Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Social problem solving is the cognitive-affective-behavioral process by which people attempt to resolve real-life problems in a social environment, and is of key importance in the management of emotions and well-being. This paper reviews a series of studies on social problem solving conducted by the authors. First, we developed and validated the Chinese version of the Social Problem-Solving Inventory Revised (C-SPSI-R) which demonstrated very good psychometric properties. Second, we identified the scope of stressful social situations faced by young adults and their self-efficacy in facing such situations (N = 179). Young adults were generally confident about their basic social skills but found it much more stressful to relate to family members, handle conflicts, handle negative behaviors from others, self-disclose to others, and to express love. Third, in two separate studies, we found that social problem solving was closely linked to measures of depression (n = 200), anxiety (n = 235), and family well-being (N = 1462). Measures of anxiety and depression were found to be significantly related to aspects of social problem solving in expected directions and expected strength. In another study, higher parental social problem solving behavior and lower avoidance behavior were found to be related to indicators of family well-being, including better overall family functioning, and fewer parent–adolescent conflicts.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Albano, A. M., Marten, P. A., Holt, C. S., & Heimberg, R. G. (1995). Cognitive-behavioral group treatment for social phobia in adolescents: A preliminary study. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 183, 649–656.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allison, R. E. (1997).The concept of harmony in Chuang Tzu. In S. H. Liu & R. E. Allison (Eds.), Harmony and strife: Contemporary perspectives, east and west (pp. 169–186). The Hong Kong: Chinese University Press.

  • Bonner, R. L., & Rich, A. R. (1988). Negative life stress, social problem-solving self-appraisal, and hopelessness: Implications for suicide research. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 12, 549–556.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang, E. C., & D’Zurilla, T. J. (1996). Relations between problem orientation and optimism, pessimism, and trait affectivity. Behavior Research and Therapy, 34, 185–194.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clum, G. A., Yang, B., Febbraro, G. A., & Canfield, D. L. (1996). An investigation of the validity of the SPSI and SPSI-R in differentiating high-suicidal from depressed, low-suicidal college students. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 18, 119–132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan, P. W., Schade, M. L., & Liberman, R. P. (1992). Social skills training. In R. P. Liberman (Ed.), Handbook of psychiatric rehabilitation. New York: Macmillan.

  • Csoti, M. (1999). People skills for young adults. London: Jessica Kingsley.

    Google Scholar 

  • D’Zurilla, T. J. (1986). Problem-solving therapy: A social competence approach to clinical intervention. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D’Zurilla, T. J., & Nezu, A. M. (1990). Development and preliminary evaluation of the social problem-solving inventory. Psychological Assessment, 2, 156–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D’Zurilla, T. J., Nezu, A. M., & Maydeu-Olivares, A. (1996). Manual for the social problem-solving inventory––revised (SPSI-R). Tonawanda, NY: Multi-Health Systems.

    Google Scholar 

  • D’Zurilla, T. J., & Sheedy, C. F. (1991). Relation between social problem-solving ability and subsequent level of psychological stress in college students. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61, 841–846.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dubow, E. F., & Tisak, J. (1989). The relation between stressful life events and adjustment in elementary school children: The role of social support and social problem-solving skills. Child Development, 60, 1412–1423.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dubow, E. F., Tisak, J., Causey, D., & Hryshko, A. (1991). A two-year longitudinal study of stressful life events, social support, and social problem-solving skills: Contributions to children’s behavioral and academic adjustment. Child Development, 62, 583–599.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feeney, J. A., & Noller, P. (1996). Adult attachment. Newcastle, UK: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Felce, D., & Perry, J. (1995). Quality of life: Its definition and measurement. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 16, 51–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foster, S. L., & Robin, A. L. (1989). Parent-adolescent conflict. In E. J. Mash (Ed.), Treatment of childhood disorders (pp. 493–528). New York: Guilford Press.

  • Frey, K. S., Hirschstein, M. K., & Guzzo, B. A. (2000). Second step: Preventing aggression by promoting social competence. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 8, 102–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frye, A. A., & Goodman, S. H. (2000). Which social problem solving components buffer depression in adolescent girls? Cognitive Therapy and Research, 24, 637–650.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, A. J. S. (1998). Family problem solving: A resource and potential target for intervention in families of children with Down’s syndrome. Dissertation Abstracts International Section B: The Sciences and Engineering, 59(4-B), 1913.

  • Goodman, S. H., Gravitt, G. W., & Kaslow, N. J. (1995). Social problem solving: A moderator of the relation between negative life stress and depression symptoms in children. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 23, 473–485.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graber, J. A. E., Brooks-Gunn, J. E., & Petersen, A. C. E. (1996). Transitions through adolescence: Interpersonal domains and context. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guevremont, D. C., & Foster, S. L. (1993). Impact of social problem-solving training on aggressive boys: Skill acquisition, behavior change, and generalization. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 21, 13–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jaffe, W. B., & D’Zurilla, T. J. (2003). Adolescent problem solving, parent problem solving, and externalizing behavior in adolescents. Behavior Therapy, 34, 295–311.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kang, S. H., & Lee, J. Y. (1992). Stress-buffering effects of social support and social problem solving skills in the adjustment of children. Korean Journal of Child Studies, 13, 175–188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, M. G., Felner, R. D., Cauce, A., & Primavera, J. (1988). Social problem solving and adjustment in adolescence: The influence of moral reasoning level, scoring alternatives, and family climate. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 17, 73–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kirkbride, P. S., Tang, S. F., & Westwood, R. I. (1991). Chinese conflict preferences and negotiating behaviour: Cultural and psychological influences. Organization Studies, 12, 365–386.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Logan, G. D. (1989). Automaticity and cognitive control. In J. A. Bargh & J. S. Uleman (Eds.), Unintended thought (pp. 52–74). New York: Guilford Press.

  • Maydeu-Olivares, A., & D’Zurilla, T. J. (1995). A factor analysis of the social problem-solving inventory using polychoric correlations. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 11, 98–107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maydeu-Olivares, A., & D’Zurilla, T. J. (1996). A factor-analytic study of the social problem-solving inventory: An integration of theory and data. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 20, 115–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, K. A., Evans, V. J., Brooks, G., & Roth, J. (2001). What are good child outcomes? In A. Thornton (Ed.), The well-being of children and families: Research and data needs (pp. 59–84). Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.

  • Nezu, A. M. (1986a). Negative life stress and anxiety: Problem solving as a moderator variable. Psychological Reports, 58, 279–283.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nezu, A. M. (1986b). Social problem solving as a moderating variable between negative life stress and depressive symptoms. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 10, 489–498.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robin, A. L., & Foster, S. L. (1984). Problem-solving communication training: A behavioral-family systems approach to parent-adolescent conflict. Advances in Child Behavioral Analysis and Therapy, 3, 195–240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L. (1997). Family environment and adolescent psychological well-being, school adjustment, and problem behavior: A pioneer study in a Chinese context. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 158, 113–128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L. (1998). A longitudinal study of the relations of parent-adolescent conflict to adolescent psychological well-being. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 159, 53–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L. (2002). Assessment of family functioning Chinese adolescents: The Chinese family assessment instrument. In N. N. Singh, T. Ollendick, & A. N. Singh (Eds.), International perspectives on child and adolescent mental health (pp. 297–316). Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier.

  • Shek, D. T. L., & Chan, L. K. (1998). Perceptions of a happy family amongst Chinese adolescents and their parents. Journal of Youth Studies, 1, 178–189.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shenkar, O., & Ronen, S. (1987). The cultural context of negotiations: The implications of Chinese interpersonal norms. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 23, 263–275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shure, M. (1997). Interpersonal cognitive problem solving: Primary prevention of early high-risk behaviors in the preschool and primary years. In G. Albee & T. Gullotta (Eds.), Primary prevention works (pp. 167–188). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

  • Siu, A. M. H. (2003). Interpersonal competence, family functioning, and parent-adolescent conflicts. Dissertation Abstracts International Section A: Humanities and Social Sciences, 63(10-A), 3733.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siu, A. M. H., & Shek, D. T. L. (2005a). The Chinese version of the social problem-solving inventory: Some initial results on reliability and validity. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 61, 347–360.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siu, A. M. H., & Shek, D. T. L. (2005b). Psychometric properties of the Chinese family assessment instrument in Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong. Adolescence, 40, 817–830.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ting-Toomey, S. (1988). Intercultural conflict styles: A face-negotiation theory. In Y. Y. Kim & W. B. Gudykunst (Eds.), Theories in intercultural communication (pp. 215–235). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage).

  • Wallander, J. L., Schmitt, M., & Koot, H. M. (2001). Quality of life measurement in children and adolescents: Issues, instruments and applications. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 57, 571–585.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hunghom, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China

    Andrew M. H. Siu

  2. Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hunghom, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China

    Daniel T. L. Shek

Authors
  1. Andrew M. H. Siu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Daniel T. L. Shek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrew M. H. Siu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Siu, A.M.H., Shek, D.T.L. Social Problem Solving as a Predictor of Well-being in Adolescents and Young Adults. Soc Indic Res 95, 393–406 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-009-9527-5

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-009-9527-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation