Which coping strategy involves altering the stressor rather than the emotional response?

• A. Emotion-focused coping
• B. Problem-focused coping
• C. Avoidant coping
• D. Social support coping

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is choosing strategies that either change the situation causing stress or change how you respond to it. Altering the stressor means taking direct steps to modify or remove the source of stress. That’s problem-focused coping. It involves actions like planning, organizing tasks, seeking needed resources, changing your environment, or negotiating a better arrangement so the problem itself is addressed rather than just feeling better about it. For example, if a heavy workload is stressing you out, you might break tasks into smaller steps, set a realistic schedule, delegate tasks, or gather tools and information to complete the work more efficiently. By directly changing the situation, you reduce the stress at its source.

In contrast, emotion-focused coping aims to manage the emotions that come with the stress rather than changing the stressor itself. This includes reframing the situation, seeking emotional support, or using strategies to reduce distress like relaxation or distraction. Other approaches that avoid dealing with the problem or rely solely on others for help may lessen immediate feelings but don’t inherently alter the stressor.