Coping style

A coping style refers to an individual’s relatively stable and characteristic way of responding to stressors, adversity, or emotionally challenging situations. It involves cognitive and behavioral strategies used to manage internal and external demands that are perceived as exceeding a person’s resources. Coping styles are considered more trait-like than specific coping strategies, meaning they reflect a general tendency or predisposition in how a person typically deals with stress across different situations. This foundational model distinguishes between two broad types of coping: Problem-focused coping (directed at changing or managing the stressor itself, e.g., problem-solving, seeking information) and emotion-focused coping (aimed at regulating emotional responses to the stressor, e.g., avoidance, reappraisal, seeking emotional support).

Source: Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. New York: Springer Publishing Company.