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 | | Political psychology -- Fiji
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|  | Exploring the link of coping strategies and their associated relationships to the dispositions optimism and attributional styles within a Fiji population
Author: Swann, Ofakilomaloma M.P.
Institution: University of the South Pacific.
Award: M.A. Psychology
Subject: Political psychology -- Fiji, Political stability -- Fiji
Date: 2014
Call No.: Pac JA 74 .5 S93 2014
BRN: 1198117
Copyright:Under 10% of this thesis may be copied without the authors written permission
Abstract: During the last twenty-five years the citizens of Fiji have been subjected to major political upheavals. This research was inspired by the apparent different coping strategies that Fiji citizens may have employed over the decades to cope with these upheavals. Anecdotal evidence suggests that a break down with respect to law and order, resulting from the removal of an elected government, has created negative repercussions in the community. The purpose of the present study was not to explore this direct psycho-social impact of historical events of the last 3-4 decades. Instead this study tries to get at these issues indirectly by exploring the relationship between optimism/pessimism, coping strategies, an attributional style and locus of control that respondents state they use to handle stress. A survey questionnaire was distributed amongst professionals in the greater Suva area in the Fiji Islands. Questions were raised and attempted to be answered from this data set such as if there exists a relationship between the traits/dispositions/constructs. Over a period of 3 months, 1000 questionnaires were distributed and each respondent was given 14 days to complete and return the questionnaire. A total of 416 questionnaires (just over 40%) were completed and returned. Non-parametric correlations were calculated between the ordinal scales of established questionnaires that measured the traits/constructs optimism, coping, attributional styles and locus of control [LOT-R] (Scheier, Carver & Bridges, 1994); Brief COPE (Carver 1997); ASQ, (Seligman 1984); Locus of control/Rotters scale(Rotter,1966)] respectively. The results show that optimism and approach/problem-focused coping strategies are correlated in broad agreement with the literature on the relationship of optimism and coping strategies. Correlations that make broad psychological sense were also found between the traits/constructs of optimism, problem/approach focused coping strategies and attributional styles. Implications of these results are discussed as well as issues learned about the appropriateness of the methodologies employed in Fiji.
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