Testing the compensatory and immunity models of children's adaptive behaviors: the role of appraisal.

The present article examines the relations of negatively appraised and total life events and potential protective factors with adaptive behavior in 432 children (ages 8-12). Appraisal and protective factors were hypothesized to moderate the relation between stress exposure and adaptive behavior. Several significant interactions emerged between events rated as negative and variables reflecting social support, positive family environment, and intelligence level on adaptive behavior. Contrary to past research, the buffering role of protective factors was optimized only when the appraisal of the event was considered.