Understanding Coping in Context

Chapter 8

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Demo: Think of a stressful event

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What was the event?

What made the event stressful?

What did you do?

How did it affect you?

Are you different as a result?

Stress

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relationship between person & environment that is appraised by person as taxing or exceeding his/her resources & endangering his/her well-being

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Effects of

Stress on

Individual

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Relationships

Setting Cultures

Figure 8.1 pg. 2446

Panel A

Distal contextual

factors (risk &

protection)

Panel B

Distal personal factors (risk &

protection)

Panel C Panel D Panel E Panel F

Panel G

Panel H

Outcomes

Potential relationships among ecological levels, coping

processes, & interventions

Risk Factors

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Aspects of person/environment that increase chances of a bad outcome

Contextual factors:

Personal factors:

Protective Factors

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Aspects of person/environment that lessen the chances that the person will have a bad outcome

Contextual:

Personal:

Stressors

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Events in environment or in body that make an emotional or task demand on the individual

Task-Oriented:

Emotion-Related:

Strain

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The response to stress manifested in the person(e.g., depression or disease);

Outcome or consequences of stresses

Appraisal

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Cognitive Appraisal The process by which individuals assess their particular

circumstances

2 Types1. Primary Appraisal: Does the situation require

coping?

2. Secondary Appraisal: How do I cope?

Figure 8.1 pg. 24412

Panel A

Distal contextual

factors (risk &

protection)

Panel B

Distal personal factors (risk &

protection)

Panel C

ProximalStressor

Panel D

StressReactions

Panel E

ResourcesActivated for

coping

Panel F

CopingProcesses

Panel G

Panel H

Outcomes

Potential relationships among ecological levels, coping

processes, & interventions

Figure 8.1 pg. 24413

Panel A

Distal contextual

factors (risk &

protection)

Panel B

Distal personal factors (risk &

protection)

Panel C

ProximalStressor

Panel D

StressReactions

Panel E

ResourcesActivated for

coping

Panel F

CopingProcesses

Panel G

Panel H

Outcomes

Potential relationships among ecological levels, coping

processes, & interventions

Coping

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employed to reduce the strain associated with stressors (i.e., a means of stress resistance)

Types of Coping Strategies

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1. Acting to manage situation responsible for the stressor; changing the situation

2. Manage meaning of the situation in ways that reduce threat

3. Manage outcomes of stressors, with outcomes being anxiety or other distress

4. Acting to preclude or forestall surfacing of stressors, a preventive strategy

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That which does not kill us makes us stronger.

- Friedrich Nietzsche

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What happens when you don’t learn to cope with the situation?

Figure 8.1 pg. 24418

Panel A

Distal contextual

factors (risk &

protection)

Panel B

Distal personal factors (risk &

protection)

Panel C

ProximalStressor

Panel D

StressReactions

Panel E

ResourcesActivated for

coping

Panel F

CopingProcesses

Panel G

Resilience,Wellness,Thriving,

empowerment

Panel H

Distress,Dysfunction,

Clinicaldisorders

Outcomes

Potential relationships among ecological levels, coping

processes, & interventions

Social Support: Environmental Resource for Coping

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What is Social Support?

social interactions or relationships that provide individuals with actual assistance

Settings that provide love, caring, or a sense of attachment to a valued social group or dyad

Figure 8.1 pg. 24420

Panel A

Distal contextual

factors (risk &

protection)

Panel B

Distal personal factors (risk &

protection)

Panel C

ProximalStressor

Panel D

StressReactions

Panel E

ResourcesActivated for

coping

Panel F

CopingProcesses

Panel G

Resilience,Wellness,Thriving,

empowerment

Panel H

Distress,Dysfunction,

Clinicaldisorders

Outcomes

Social/policy advocacy, consultation, alternative

settings, community coalitions

Prevention & promotion

interventions

Crisis intervention, resource collaboration,

case management

Clinical Treatment

Potential relationships among ecological levels, coping

processes, & interventions

2 Social Support Hypotheses

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1. Direct Effect

2. Stress-buffering

(1) Direct Effect Hypothesis

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Social Support has equivalent positive impact on well-being under both high & low stress conditions

Social support is always good

High Stress

Social Support

Better OutcomeLow Stress

Stress-Buffering Hypothesis

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High Stress

Social Support

Better Outcome

Low Stress Outcome

Social Support

Downside of Social Support

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All relationships have costs & benefits

Examples: relatives with chronic illness Social Support from high risk

group

Conclusion

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Coping processes emphasize cultural, social, & institutional contexts

Risk & protective factors important as individual & environmental influences

Persons activate resources to cope with stress

Interventions can come at different levels of ecological environment