Which coping strategy is described as addressing the stressor rather than altering one's feelings about it?

Which coping strategy is described as addressing the stressor rather than altering one's feelings about it?

• A. Problem-focused Coping
• B. Emotion-focused Coping
• C. Cognitive Reframing
• D. Social Support

Answer: (A)

Problem-focused coping involves taking practical steps to change the situation itself, reducing or eliminating the stressor. It’s the approach you use when you believe the problem can be solved or the demands can be altered. For example, if homework load is overwhelming, you might organize tasks, set priorities, delegate when possible, or negotiate deadlines. Those actions target the stressor directly rather than just trying to feel better about it. Emotion-focused coping, on the other hand, aims to regulate the emotional response to the stressor, not the stressor itself. Cognitive reframing fits here because it changes how you think about the situation to lessen distress, which is about thoughts and feelings rather than the problem. Social support can help, but it’s broader and doesn’t automatically involve changing the stressor itself. So the strategy that addresses the stressor directly is problem-focused coping.

Problem-focused coping involves taking practical steps to change the situation itself, reducing or eliminating the stressor. It’s the approach you use when you believe the problem can be solved or the demands can be altered. For example, if homework load is overwhelming, you might organize tasks, set priorities, delegate when possible, or negotiate deadlines. Those actions target the stressor directly rather than just trying to feel better about it.

Emotion-focused coping, on the other hand, aims to regulate the emotional response to the stressor, not the stressor itself. Cognitive reframing fits here because it changes how you think about the situation to lessen distress, which is about thoughts and feelings rather than the problem. Social support can help, but it’s broader and doesn’t automatically involve changing the stressor itself. So the strategy that addresses the stressor directly is problem-focused coping.