Stress and Coping

Question 1

Lazarus and Folkman model

Answer 1

Stress is a person-environment process. Model emphasises the importance of evaluation because different people will interpret a situation differently.

Question 2

Coping with stress (Lazarus-Folkman)

Answer 2

Principle aims of coping are to reduce stress emotions and maintain positive emotions. Appraisals moderate between reality and internal goals/needs/desires. Coping can exist as either problem-focussed or emotion-focussed.

Question 3

Research evaluating Lazarus model

Answer 3

Emotion-focussed coping less successful, problem-focussed best for fewer health complaints.

Question 4

Leventhal’s self-regulation model (common sense model)

Answer 4

People evaluate behaviour/experiences and are motivated to reduce risk. Behaviour is made up of Problem representation, Coping stage and Appraisal stage.

Question 5

Lazarus vs Leventhal

Answer 5

Similarities: individuals are regarded as active in their interactions and share a similar overall structure. they also recognise importance of appraisal processes and distinguish between problem and motion-focussed coping

Differences: Self-regulation model aims to understand how illness representations influence coping - Lazarus model aims to understand emotions. Leventhal thus goes further to identify specific underlying characteristics which influence coping