Psych U3 AOS1 Dot point 8

Context specific effectiveness

Coping flexibility

Refers to the ability to effectively modify or adjust one’s coping strategies according to the demands of different stressful situations. It includes the abilities to:

• Recognise whether the use of a flexible coping strategy is appropriate for the specific situation

• Select a coping strategy that suits the situational circumstances

• Recognise when the coping strategy being used is ineffective

• Discontinue an ineffective coping strategy

• Produce and implement an alternative coping strategy when required

High coping flexibility

Individuals who readily adjust their coping strategies if a particular strategy they are using is proving to be ineffective. They also tend to use different types of coping strategies across a variety of stressful situations, and there tends to be a good fit between the coping strategies they deploy and the characteristics of the specific situational demands.

Low coping flexibility

Individuals that consistently use the same type of coping strategies across different stressful situations, and persist in their use of the coping strategies they deploy, even if ineffective. Essentially, these individuals aren’t very adaptable and almost always approach coping much the same way, almost habitually.

Approach coping strategies

Involve efforts to confront a stressor and deal directly with it and its effects. Activity is focused towards the stressor, its causes and a solution that will address the underlying problem and minimise or eliminate its impact.

Avoidance coping strategies

Involve 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.