9. Methods of Coping

• Coping refers to the all the things we do to manage and reduce stress
• Coping Strategies refer to the specific method used to manage or reduce stress caused by a stressor
• There are 2 different types of coping strategies to deal with stress; Approach and Avoidant
• Approach strategy confronts the stressor and effects directly
• Avoidant strategy evades a stressor to address effects indirectly
• Avoidant involves behavioral or emotional disengagement
• Avoidant refers to no attempt to actively confront the stressor
• Approach strategies are generally considered to be more adaptive and effective, and those who rely more on approach strategies experience fewer psychological symptoms
• Approach strategies may, however, increase stress levels initially, and require a lot of energy and focus
• Avoidance Strategies may be appropriate in specific situations, and allows the conservation of energy, and can be more effective in coping with stress in the short term
• Avoidance Strats tend to be maladaptive and the long term use of this can cause other problems, as they tend to only be helpful in the short term
• Coping Flexibility refers to the ability to modify our coping strategies to meet the demands of different stressful situations
• Coping Flexibility refers to our ability to relinquish an ineffective coping strategy and to devise and implement an alternative, and more effective strategy
• High and Low coping strategies
• High; quick to recognize and adjust their coping strategies

  Low; tend to rely on the same limited coping strategies, non-flexible
• Context-Specific Effectiveness + Coping Flexibility = One's ability to cope with stress