Paranormal Coping and Coping Style

The aim of this study was to examine correlations between the Use of Paranormal and New Age Services (UPNAS) Questionnaire, and the Brief COPE (Carver, Scheier, & Weintraub, 1997) subscales to establish questionnaire validity. It was suggested that the UPNAS Cognitive-Orientated Coping subscale is comprised of items which reflect revaluating goals and understanding more about oneself and situations. This should correlate significantly and positively with approach-orientated coping subscales (e.g., Active Coping, Instrumental Support, Positive Reframing, Planning, and Acceptance). The UPNAS Avoidance-Orientated Coping subscale includes items which reflect efforts to disengage from a stressor through avoidance or denial. This should correlate significantly and positively with equivalent avoidance- orientated subscales (e.g., Denial, Behavioural Disengagement, Self-Distraction, and Self-Blame). The UPNAS Lack of Control subscale is characterised by the occurrence of negative, uncontrollable events which require an individual to seek support for making decisions and changes to improve their situation. There were no hypotheses made for this subscale as it is possible that these behaviours may function as an approach or avoidance-orientated method of coping. The UPNAS Practitioner Authenticity subscale reflects individuals’ perceptions of practitioners as truthful, honest, and objective sources of support. This should be correlated significantly and positively with support-orientated subscales (e.g., Emotional and Instrumental Support).

6.06 RESULTS

Pearson’s Correlation Coefficients were calculated to examine the relationship

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Table 40: UPNAS and Brief COPE Correlation Coefficients

Brief COPE Cognitive-

Orientated Avoidance- Orientated Lack of Control Practitioner Authenticity Self-Distraction .404** .113 .412** .292** Active Coping .191* .011 .074 .112 Denial .050 .424** .096 .074 Substance Use .088 .124 .147 .222* Emotional Support .252** .192* .256** .201* Instrumental Support .277** .277** .299** .203* Behavioural Disengagement .119 .366** .260** .149 Venting .208* .286** .136 .271** Positive Reframing .112 .078 .003 .011 Planning .230* -.039 .084 .106 Humour .143 -.084 .115 .073 Acceptance .271** .134 .069 .179* Religion .155 .082 .102 .181* Self-Blame .022 .280** .082 .069 ** p<.01 * p<.05

The Cognitive-Orientated Coping subscale correlated significantly and positively with the Self-Distraction (r = .404, p < .01), Active Coping (r = .191, p < .05), Emotional Support (r = .252, p < .01), Instrumental Support (r = .277, p < .01), Venting (r = .208, p < .05), Planning (r = .230, p < .05), and Acceptance (r = .271, p <. 01) subscales of the Brief COPE.

The Avoidance-Orientated Coping Subscale correlated significantly and positively with the Denial (r = .424, p <. 01), Emotional Support (r = .192, p < .05), Instrumental Support (r = .277, p < .01), Behavioural Disengagement (r = .366, p < .01), Venting (r = .286, p < .01), and Self-Blame (r = .280, p < .01) subscales of the Brief COPE.

The Lack of Control subscale correlated significantly and positively with the Self-Distraction (r = .412, p < .01), Emotional Support (r = .256, p < .01), Instrumental Support (r = .299, p < .01), and Behavioural Disengagement (r = .260, p < .01) subscales of the Brief COPE.

The Practitioner Authenticity subscale correlated significantly and positively with the Self-Distraction (r = .191, p < .05), Substance Use (r = .191, p < .05), Emotional Support (r = .191, p <. 05), Instrumental Support (r = .191, p <.05), Venting

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(r = .191, p <.05), Acceptance (r = .191, p <. 05), and Religion (r = .191, p < .05) subscales of the Brief COPE.

6.07 DISCUSSION

This study sought to examine correlation coefficients between the Use of Paranormal and New Age Services (UPNAS) Questionnaire subscales and those of the Brief COPE (Carver, Scheier, & Weintraub, 1997) in order to establish questionnaire validity. The results from this study lend support to the validity of the UPNAS Questionnaire.

The correlations between the Cognitive-Orientated Coping subscale and the Brief COPE subscales partly support the original hypotheses. Active Coping, Planning, and Acceptance are usually considered approach-orientated and all encompass cognitive coping behaviours. They focus upon recognising problems, finding logical solutions to solve them, and accepting that stressful events do happen. There were also significant positive correlations with Self-Distraction and Venting. It could be suggested that individuals can compartmentalise stressful or difficult situations until such time they are able to take time to think clearly, and process their emotional distress through venting. Visiting a paranormal service appears to allow certain individuals time to reflect and develop positive coping behaviours whilst allowing them space to express negative emotions. Overall this supports the validity of the Cognitive-Orientated Coping subscale of the UPNAS questionnaire.

The correlations between the Avoidance-Orientated Coping subscale and the Brief COPE subscales support the original hypotheses and lend support to the validity of the UPNAS Questionnaire. Denial, Behavioural Disengagement, Venting, and Self- Blame are usually considered avoidance-orientated. These focus upon disengaging with a stressor through avoidance or denial, feelings of being unable to cope or losing the

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motivation to try and cope. These are concepts reflected in the Avoidance-Orientated Coping subscale which supports the validity of the UPNAS questionnaire.

The correlations between the Lack of Control subscale and the Brief COPE subscales suggests that upon the occurrence of negative, stressful events individuals use paranormal services to distract themselves from a specific issue. There were positive and significant correlations between the Lack of Control subscale and Self-Distraction and Behavioural Disengagement subscales. It is possible that use of paranormal services allow individuals to withdraw into a make-believe world, escape stress, and cope with their perceived loss of personal control. By relying on paranormal services to make important decisions and direct behaviours they may be reducing personal accountability for the failure of any resulting action. The implication is that some participants’ belief in, and need to, receive paranormally sourced advice does not appear to serve as an approach-orientated form of coping in times of uncertainty and/or emotional distress. The Lack of Control subscale supports previous research linking increased paranormal belief with illusory control and the validity of the UPNAS Questionnaire.

The Practitioner Authenticity subscale had a number of positive and significant correlations with the Brief COPE subscales. As expected, both Emotional Support and Instrumental Support were significantly and positively correlated with Practitioner Authenticity. This suggests that individuals use paranormal services as they are able to seek advice, help, support, and comfort from the practitioner. Emotional Support and Instrumental Support have a similar relationship with all four of the UPNAS subscales. This supports the notion that practitioners are an essential component of paranormal coping for those who have accessed paranormal services. Practitioner Authenticity was also correlated with Venting and Acceptance. Individuals may view practitioners as a safe, supportive person to whom they can express their emotional distress. It is possible

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that by venting, individuals feel listened to and understood which in turn allows them to accept and move forward from negative events.

Surprisingly, there was also a relationship between Practitioner Authenticity and Substance Use. Previous research has linked substance use to the endorsement of paranormal belief and reports of paranormal experiences (Gallagher, Kumar, & Pekala, 1994; Houran & Williams, 1998; Kumar, Pekala, & Cummings, 1992; Pekala, Kumar, & Marcano, 1995; Simmonds & Roe, 2000; Thalbourne, 2001). There is no explanation why Substance Use would correlate with Practitioner Authenticity but not the remaining UPNAS subscales. A further examination of this relationship may be warranted in future research. Overall, the correlations coefficients between the UPNAS and the Brief COPE support the hypotheses and lend support to the validity of the UPNAS Questionnaire.