In health psychology the role of proactivity in well-being, life satisfaction and successful aging is investigating (Aspinwall L., Kahana E.). How proactive coping determines the quality of life and longevity?
Someone with proactive coping have strength to grow up and self balance
I guess someone who is proactive is more likely to engage in problem focussed approaches to coping which can lead to better adjustment, unless of course the source of the stressor is uncontrollable, and in which case an emotion focussed approach can be more adaptive - see work by Lazarus and colleagues. Proactivity is also most likely positively correlated with constructs like self-efficacy and inversely correlated with constructs such as helplessness. I believe there is a measure of proactivity - perhaps check for references by Spector?
It is related to the HPA axis and the role of cortisol. Better coping skills can reduce (or prevent) chronic stress and the corresponding negative consequences of cortisol in the bloodstream. This positive outcome can have also positive effects in the QoL and longevity, as it helps to prevent both opportunists and some chronic diseases.
Kahana et al in their research include health behaviours such as not smoking, and increasing exercise as proactive coping, so this would be expected to correlate with improved physical as well as psychological health. Aspinwall's proactive coping subscale on the other hand is less specifically focussed.
Kahana et al (2012) specifically link proactive coping to QOL. But QOL is measured as depression and social activities and there is no intervening measure of physical health outcomes.
Kahana, E., et al. (2012). "Proactive aging: A longitudinal study of stress, resources, agency, and well-being in late life." Aging & Mental Health 16(4): 438-451.
You may also be interested in the paper by Greenglass et al (2005) showing proactive coping predicted behavioural outcomes in rehabilitation.
Greenglass, E. R. (2005). "Positive coping and mastery in a rehabilitation setting." International journal of rehabilitation research 28(4): 331-339.
Are you planning a research in this area. I'd be very interested in your findings.
Regards
Sue
I'm planning a large-scale study the proactivity, including in gerontopsychology (influence on successful aging; correlation with flourishing, etc)
We can joint to conduct research focusing on proactive coping cross-nation to gate up the multiple-perspective of understanding from indigenous people.
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