According to the Lazarus stress and coping theory, coping strategies and cognitive reassessment of their effectiveness are mediator variables, which have an impact on adjustment. There is a lot of research on this topic, but the findings about the nature of the association between different coping strategies, health and some individual characteristics are not consistent. Therefore, we examined associations between subjective cognitive effectiveness reassessment of emotional coping strategies and some health outcomes in adolescents of different age and gender. The research was carried out using Coping Scale for Children and Adolescents and Psychosomatic Symptoms Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (both by Vulić Prtorić), on a total sample of 351 male and female adolescents. Girls were found to have more psychosomatic difficulties (total number of symptoms and self- reported disturbance) than boys, secondary school pupils more than primary school pupils. A significant gender differences in reassessment of emotional coping strategies was found, but the age was of minor importance. Subjective cognitive effectiveness reassessment of emotional coping was found to be significantly related to effects on health, especially among boys. The most important predictors for negative health outcomes are assessments about effectiveness of avoidant strategies. The results may be helpful in psychological assessment and treatment of adolescents with psychosomatic difficulties and in creating prevention programs in school.

coping, psychosomatic symptoms, adolescence