Abstract: A comparative analysis was made on the coping intention (CD and situational coping (SC) to the special life-events of being infringed on the legal rights in the elderly. The results of factor analysis identified five styles and three underlying dimensions of coping intention, as well as six situational coping styles and four underlying coping dimensions. It was also found by comparison betWeen CI and SC that there existed similarity and difference in the degree to which various coping style was adopted in the aged population investigated. The study explored with multiple regression analysis the possible factors which affected the utilization of various types of CI as well as SC in the elderly. And the results showed that age, education, economic status and acquaintance with the law were factors signiflcantly affecting both CI and SC. In addition, health and sex difference also affected the CI and SC respectively.

Key words: coping intention, situational coping, special life-events, the elderly