coping mechanisms

approach strategies

an effort to confront a stressor and deal directly with its causes and its effects

characteristics of an approach strategy

• activity focused towards stressor

• aim: minimise / eliminate its impact

• often more challenging but usually long term benefits

examples of an approach strategy

lose job (external stressor) ---> search for a new jobpainful chronic condition (internal stressor) ---> find treatment options through health professionals

Avoidance strategy

actions that help avert any contact, exposure or engagement with a stressor/feared object or situation

characteristics of an avoidance strategy

• activities that remove self from stressor

• aim: ignore until it goes away

• easier to enact but usually only short term benefits

examples of an avoidance strategy

lose job (external stressor) ---> complain about the company that fired youpainful chronic condition ---> drink alcohol

context specific effectiveness

when there is a match or 'good fit' between the coping strategy that is used and the stressful situation

factors of context specific effectiveness

1. the stressor itself (right strategy for this stressor)

2. the situation (right strategy for this situation

3. the individual (right strategy for this individual)

3. the individual (right strategy for this individual)

coping flexibility

the ability to effectively modify or adjust one's coping strategies according to the demands of different stressful situations