Dispositional Envy, Domain Importance, and Obtainability of Desired Objects: Selection of Strategies for Coping with Envy

• Published in: The Japanese Journal of Educational Psychology Vol. 50; no. 2; pp. 246 - 256
• Main Authors: SAWADA, MASATO, ARAI, KUNIJIRO
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Japanese Association of Educational Psychology 30.06.2002
• Subjects: coping strategies; dispositional envy; domain importance; envy; obtainability
• ISSN: 0021-5015; 2186-3075
• DOI: 10.5926/jjep1953.50.2_246

The present study examined the effect of dispositional envy, domain importance, and the obtainability of desired objects on the selection of coping strategies. In Study 1, a dispositional envy scale for children (DESC) was constructed. Factor analysis of data from 879 elementary and junior high school pupils indicated a single factor for the 8 items on the scale. Reliability, construct validity, and concurrent validity of the scale were confirmed. In Study 2,915 elementary and junior high school pupils completed a questionaire. Factor analysis of coping strategies revealed 3 factors:“constructive solution,”“destructive engagement,” and “intenional avoidance.” Path analysis indicated that those who believed that desired objects could very likely be obtained tended to feel envy and to use a “constructive solution” coping strategy, while those who indicated that both obtainability and domain importance were low tended to use an “intentional avoidance” coping strategy. The perception of domain importance evoked greater situational envy in junior high school pupils than in elementary school pupils.