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Potency: A stress-buffering link in the coping-stress-disease relationship

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  • Ben-Sira, Zeev

Abstract

A study carried out among a representative sample of Israeli adults was aimed at elucidating the factors which facilitate maintaining an individual's emotional homeostasis despite occasional failures in initially coping with stressors due to resource inadequacy. A feeling of potency, comprising confidence both in one's own capacities and in society which is perceived as basically ordered, predictable and meaningful, has been suggested as a stress-buffering intervening mechanism in the coping-stress-disease relationship. Data support the hypothesis that potency fulfills a tension-bounding function by weakening the association among the components of the coping-stress-health relationship, thus moderating the deleterious effect of occasional failures in coping on homeostasis and health. Data further alluded to potency being enhanced both by accumulation of successful coping experiences, and by social support.

Suggested Citation

  • Ben-Sira, Zeev, 1985. "Potency: A stress-buffering link in the coping-stress-disease relationship," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 21(4), pages 397-406, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:21:y:1985:i:4:p:397-406
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    Cited by:

    1. Limor Goldner & Rachel Lev-Weisel & Yael Schanan, 2019. "Caring about Tomorrow: the Role of Potency, Socio-Economic Status and Gender in Israeli Adolescents’ Academic Future Orientation," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 12(4), pages 1333-1349, August.
    2. Irit Birger Sagiv & Limor Goldner & Yifat Carmel, 2022. "Civic Engagement in Socially Excluded Young Adults Promotes Well-Being: The Mediation of Self-Efficacy, Meaning in Life, and Identity Exploration," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-15, August.
    3. Yariv Itzkovich & Ella Barhon & Rachel Lev-Wiesel, 2021. "Health and Risk Behaviors of Bystanders: An Integrative Theoretical Model of Bystanders’ Reactions to Mistreatment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-14, May.

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