coping strategies

Question 1

Coping Strategies

Answer 1

A coping strategy is the specific method, behavioural or psychological, that people use to manage or reduce the stress produced by the stressor

Question 2

Approach Coping Strategies

Answer 2

Efforts to confront a stressor and deal directly with it and its effects
-Activity focused towards the stressor, its causes and a solution that will address the underlying problem, issue or concern and minimize or eliminate its impact
- eg. seeking advice from an expert, studying for the exam)

Question 3

Avoidance Coping Strategies

Answer 3

Efforts that evade a stressor and deal indirectly with it and its effects
-Activity is focused away from the stressor and there is no attempt to actively confront the stressor and its causes
-e.g eg. denial, distancing, procrastination), job loss stressor may be to not tell anyone and not think about it.

Question 4

Context-specific Effectiveness

Answer 4

A coping strategy is considered to have context-specific effectiveness when there is a match or ‘good fit’ between the coping strategy that is used and the stressful situation
-effective strategy would take account of all the characteristics of the stressful situation
-physical environment, the stressor and the individual involved

Question 5

Coping Flexibility

Answer 5

Ability to effectively modify or adjust one’s coping strategies according to the demands of different stress situations.
-A strategy might work one situation, but may not work in another.
-multiple strategies for a stressor
-change or adapt a strategy if new issues arise.
-employ coping flexibility, are BETTER able to manage stressors.