Patterns of Stress Appraisal in a Conflict Environment: A Northern Irish Study

Karen Trew
Orla Muldoon
The Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland

Citation: Trew, Karen and Orla Muldoon (1995). "Patterns of Stress Appraisal in a Conflict Environment: A Northern Irish Study." Children's Environments 12 (1): 72-84. Retrieved [date] from http://www.colorado.edu/journals/cye/

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Abstract

Recent research has emphasized the importance of cognitive appraisal in under- standing coping processes. This study attempted to assess Belfast children's perception of stressful familial, academic, social and violent events with specific reference to the Northern Irish conflict environment. The perceptions of 689 eight to 11-year olds of the stressfulness of negative life events were rated: male and female, Protestant and Catholic children from low and middle socioeconomic backgrounds participated in the study. Responses were factor analyzed to illustrate the dimensions of events children find stressful. Using dimension scores, developmental, gender and sociocultural differences in children's perceptions of negative events are examined. These results are discussed with specific reference to the Northern Irish conflict environment.

Keywords: children, Northern Ireland, political conflict, stress appraisal