Measurement of Coping-Styles

-Prerna Baid
INTRODUCTION
Meaning and Concept
Coping is defined as the thoughts and behaviours mobilized to manage internal and external
stressful situations. It is a term used distinctively for conscious and voluntary mobilization of
acts, different from ‘defense mechanisms’ that are subconscious or unconscious adaptive
responses, both of which aim to reduce or tolerate stress.

When individuals are subjected to a stressor, the varying ways of dealing with it are termed
‘coping styles,’ which are a set of relatively stable traits that determine the individual’s
behaviour in response to stress. These are consistent over time and across situations. Generally,
coping is divided into reactive coping (a reaction following the stressor) and proactive coping
(aiming to neutralize future stressors). Proactive individuals excel in stable environments
because they are more routinized, rigid, and are less reactive to stressors, while reactive
individuals perform better in a more variable environment.
Definitions
Coping refers to the cognitive and behavioral strategies individuals use to manage stress, adapt
to challenges, and maintain psychological well-being. Here are some definitions of coping:
1. Lazarus and Folkman (1984): Richard Lazarus and Susan Folkman defined coping as
“constantly changing cognitive and behavioural efforts to manage specific external
and/or internal demands that are appraised as taxing or exceeding the resources of the
person.”
2. Aaron Antonovsky (1979): Antonovsky introduced the concept of “sense of coherence”
as a coping mechanism, emphasizing the importance of comprehensibility,
manageability, and meaningfulness in coping with stressors.
3. Susan Kobasa (1979): Susan Kobasa introduced the concept of "hardiness" as a coping
strategy, which includes three components: commitment, control, and challenge.
4. Carver and Scheier (1994): Charles Carver and Michael Scheier developed the concept of
"optimism" as a coping style, highlighting the role of positive expectations and adaptive
thinking in coping with adversity.

Uses of Coping
Coping plays a crucial role in psychology and is used in various ways to understand and address
psychological and emotional challenges. There are some key uses of coping which are as
follows:
1. Stress Management: Coping strategies are essential for managing stress, whether it’s
related to work, relationships, or health. Individuals use coping mechanisms to reduce
the impact of stressors on their mental and physical well-being.
2. Adaptation to Change: Coping helps individuals adapt to significant life changes, such as
marriage, divorce, parenthood, relocation, or career transitions. Effective coping
strategies can ease the adjustment process.
3. Emotional Regulation: Coping involves regulating emotions. People use coping
mechanisms to cope with negative emotions like anxiety, anger, and sadness. For
example, deep breathing exercises or mindfulness can help regulate emotional
responses.
4. Problem-Solving: Coping strategies often involve problem-solving skills. When faced with
a challenge, individuals may use coping techniques to analyze the situation, develop a
plan, and take action to resolve the issue.
5. Enhancing Resilience: Coping promotes resilience, which is the ability to bounce back
from adversity. Effective coping mechanisms build psychological strength and enable
individuals to withstand and recover from setbacks.
6. Coping with Trauma and Grief: Coping is crucial when dealing with traumatic
experiences or grief. Therapeutic coping strategies, such as counselling and support
groups, help individuals process and heal from trauma and loss.
7. Improving Mental Health: Coping strategies are used in the treatment of mental health
conditions like depression and anxiety. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), for instance,
teaches individuals adaptive coping skills to manage symptoms.
8. Preventing Maladaptive Behaviours: Coping can prevent the development of
maladaptive behaviours like substance abuse or self-harm. Healthy coping mechanisms
provide alternatives to destructive habits.
9. Self-Understanding: Coping encourages self-reflection and self-awareness. By identifying
their coping styles and strategies, individuals gain insight into their strengths and areas
for growth.
10. Enhancing Well-Being: Coping isn’t just about managing crises; it also contributes to
overall well-being. Positive coping strategies, such as engaging in hobbies, social
support, and relaxation techniques, promote mental and emotional health.
Types of Coping Styles
Coping styles refer to the relatively stable and consistent ways in which individuals tend to
approach and manage stressors or challenging situations. These styles can influence how people
respond to stress and adversity. There are several recognized coping styles which includes:
1. Active Coping: Individuals with an active coping style take direct and constructive actions
to address and resolve stressors. They face problems head-on, seeking solutions and
taking responsibility for their actions. For example, if faced with a work-related
challenge, they may actively engage in problem-solving or seek additional training to
improve their skills.

2. Avoidant Coping: This style involves avoiding or denying the existence of stressors.
People who use avoidant coping may try to distance themselves from the source of
stress, ignore problems, or engage in distracting activities. For instance,
someone experiencing relationship issues might avoid discussing the problems or turn to
substances like alcohol to escape their feelings temporarily.

3. Problem-Focused Coping: Similar to active coping, problem-focused coping emphasizes

addressing the specific problem causing stress. Individuals using this style work on
finding practical solutions and taking steps to change or improve the situation.
For example, if dealing with financial stress, they may create a budget or seek additional
income sources.

4. Emotion-Focused Coping: Emotion-focused coping involves managing the emotional

distress caused by a stressor rather than directly addressing the problem itself.
Strategies in this category aim to regulate emotions, reduce negative feelings, and
provide emotional comfort. For example, someone using emotion-focused coping might
engage in deep breathing exercises, meditation, or seek social support to manage their
emotional reactions.

5. Social Coping: This style involves seeking support and assistance from others to manage
stress. Individuals with a social coping style turn to friends, family, or support networks
for emotional support, advice, or assistance in dealing with stressors.
For example, sharing concerns and receiving validation from others can be a crucial
aspect of this coping style.

6. Spiritual or Religious Coping: Some individuals draw on their spiritual or religious beliefs
and practices as a way to cope with stress and find meaning in difficult situations.
For example, prayer, meditation, attending religious services, or seeking guidance from a
spiritual leader.
 7. Resilience Coping: Resilient coping involves the ability to bounce back from adversity
and maintain psychological well-being despite facing significant stressors. For example,
people with this coping style often have a positive outlook, adapt well to change, and
view challenges as opportunities for growth.
Coping styles can also evolve over time as individuals gain life experience and develop their
coping repertoire. Effective coping often involves a balance between problem-focused and
emotion-focused strategies, with a consideration of the context and nature of the stressor.
Ways to Improve Coping Skills
Improving coping skills is essential for better managing stress and challenging situations.
Developing effective coping strategies can enhance your psychological well-being and resilience.
Some ways to improve your coping skills are:
1. Self-awareness: Understand your current coping strategies and how you typically
respond to stressors. Reflect on past experiences and identify which coping methods
were effective and which were not.

2. Identify stressors: Recognize the specific stressors in your life. Knowing what is causing
you stress allows you to tailor your coping strategies to address those particular
challenges.

3. Develop problem-solving skills: Learn problem-solving techniques to tackle the root

causes of stress. Break problems down into manageable steps and work systematically
to find solutions.

4. Improve time management: Time management skills can help reduce stress by allowing
you to allocate your time more efficiently. Create schedules, prioritize tasks, and avoid
procrastination.

5. Enhance emotional regulation: Practice emotional regulation techniques to manage your

emotional responses to stressors. This includes deep breathing exercises, mindfulness
meditation, and relaxation techniques.

6. Seek social support: Build and maintain a strong support network of friends and family.
Share your feelings and concerns with trusted individuals who can offer emotional
support and guidance.
 7. Communication skills: Improve your ability to communicate effectively, both in
expressing your needs and listening to others. Effective communication can prevent
misunderstandings and conflicts.

8. Positive thinking: Foster a positive mindset by challenging negative thought patterns and
focusing on gratitude and optimism. Positive thinking can help reduce the emotional
impact of stressors.

9. Practice resilience: Resilience is the ability to bounce back from adversity. Cultivate
resilience by viewing challenges as opportunities for growth, learning from setbacks, and
maintaining a sense of purpose.

10. Set realistic goals: Establish achievable goals and expectations for yourself. Unrealistic
expectations can lead to unnecessary stress and disappointment.

11. Stress management techniques: Learn and practice stress management techniques such
as exercise, yoga, progressive muscle relaxation, or hobbies that help you relax and
unwind.

12. Counselling or therapy: Consider seeking professional help from a therapist or

counsellor. They can provide guidance, teach coping skills, and offer a safe space to
explore and address underlying issues contributing to stress.

13. Self-care: Prioritize self-care activities that promote physical and mental well-being, such
as getting enough sleep, maintaining a healthy diet, and engaging in activities you enjoy.

14. Adaptability: Develop the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Flexibility in your
thinking and behaviour can help you navigate unexpected challenges.

15. Mindfulness: Practice mindfulness techniques to stay present in the moment, reduce
rumination about past events or worries about the future, and increase your ability to
cope with stress.

RESEARCHES

1. Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping (1984): Lazarus and
Folkman developed the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping in 1984, which is a
widely recognized framework for understanding how individuals cope with stressors.
This model suggests that stress is a dynamic process involving an individual’s appraisal of
 a stressor and their coping resources. They proposed two primary types of coping
strategies:
Problem-Focused Coping: This involves taking actions to directly address the stressor.
Emotion-Focused Coping: This focuses on managing the emotional distress associated with the
stressor rather than directly addressing the problem.
The Transactional Model of Stress and Coping has significantly influenced the field of psychology
and stress research, providing a framework for understanding the complex interplay between
stressors, individual appraisals, and coping strategies.

2. Carver, Scheier, and Weintraub’s COPE Inventory (1989): Carver, Scheier, and Weintraub
developed the COPE Inventory(1989), a self-report questionnaire designed to assess an
individual’s use of coping strategies in response to stress. The COPE Inventory measures
a wide range of coping strategies and has been used in numerous studies to explore
coping styles.
Through the COPE Inventory, they identified various coping strategies and styles, including:
Active Coping: Taking direct action to address the stressor or its emotional impact.
Planning: Developing a clear strategy to manage the situation effectively.
Positive Reframing: Finding a positive or constructive perspective on the stressor.
Humor: Using humor to lighten the emotional load associated with stress.
Seeking Social Support: Reaching out to others for assistance and emotional support.
The COPE Inventory has been widely used in research to assess coping styles and their
relationship with psychological well-being, health outcomes, and adaptation to various
stressors. It has contributed to a better understanding of how individuals cope with different
challenges.

These two studies have significantly advanced our understanding of coping styles and the
strategies individuals employ to manage stress. They have influenced both research and clinical
practice, providing valuable insights into how people adapt to various stressors in their lives.

AIM
To assess the coping style of the testee with the help of Coping Strategies Scale developed by
A.K. Srivastava in 2001.