The relationship between resilience and coping in a sample of unemployed women in the eThekwini region.

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between resilience and coping in a sample of 120 unemployed women living in the Ethekwini region. Participants completed two instruments: the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) (Connor & Davidson, 2003) and Ways of Coping (WCQ) (Lazarus & Folkman, 1985) scale as well as a short demographic questionnaire. Results indicated high resilience as well as coping levels in this sample of unemployed women. Two of the resilience factors, trusting instincts and positiveness, were positively related to coping strategies like distancing, problem-solving and positive reappraisal. The latter subscale contains elements of spirituality and religiosity. In addition, most of the unemployed women reported being highly religious. The results confirm that specific factors of resilience and certain coping methods, as well as the role of religion, need to be considered when designing interventions for unemployed women.