Afrontamiento y algunos problemas internalizados y externalizados en niños

The objective of this study was to know which coping strategies were used more frequently by children; analyzing their relationship with internalizing and externalizing problems and to search how coping strategies impact on these problems. The participants were 394 children of elementary schools at Mexico City (48% boys and 52% girls), AgeM = 9.4 years old (S.D. = 1.09). Data were collected using a Socio-demographic Questionnaire for Children, the Children's Coping Scale and the Internalizing and Externalizing Problems Questionnaire for Children. Permission from the schools was obtained in order to administer the questionnaires. Two psychologists trained in the management of groups and children's assessment, collaborated in the administration of the instruments. The data were analyzed with the SPSS v.20 program. The results indicated a more frequent use of functional coping; as well as negative relations of functional coping with externalizing problems; positive correlations of dysfunctional coping and focusing on emotion with internalizing and externalizing problems. Finally, it was observed that focusing on emotion coping explains the internalizing problems to a greater extent, while dysfunctional coping explains the externalizing problems to a greater extent. These results provide support for the design of interventions that promote the emotional well being of children.