Some Alzheimer's patients described having less feelings of distress because they cognitively appraised the meaning of their diagnosis (i.e., comparing themselves with other people of their age helped them cope and adjust).

Alzheimer's patients' cognitive appraisal

Which of the Following Stressors Would Probably Be Better Handled by Emotional-Focused Coping Than Problem-Focused Coping?

Reappraisal is a cognitive technique within emotion-focused coping where an individual reinterprets a stressor to diminish its perceived threat. This reinterpretation, which can sometimes be self-deceptive, modifies the emotional reaction without altering the objective reality of the situation.

Reappraisal as an Emotion-Focused Coping Strategy

Emotion-focused coping strategies are typically prioritized when individuals face stressors they perceive as uncontrollable. For instance, when grieving the death of a loved one, it is impossible to change the situation (the loss), so coping efforts are directed at managing the resulting emotional distress.

Coping with Uncontrollable Stressors

An example of emotion-focused coping can be seen in a student who, after learning they are failing a class, chooses to manage their stress by engaging in distracting activities. Instead of addressing the academic problem, they might watch a movie, play video games, or browse social media to temporarily escape the negative feelings associated with the situation.

Example of Emotion-Focused Coping for Academic Stress

Emotion-focused coping consists of efforts to reduce or manage the negative emotional responses associated with stress, rather than changing the stressor itself. This approach is more likely to be used when individuals believe they are powerless to change the stressful situation, making it particularly effective for dealing with uncontrollable stressors.

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- Meaning-making coping model
- Emotion-focused coping
- Problem-focused coping 
- Transactional model of stress and coping 
- Dual process model of loss 


Coping Models/Strategies

While problem-focused coping aims to alter the stressor itself, emotion-focused coping seeks to manage the resulting emotional distress. The choice between these strategies often depends on an individual's perception of the stressor's controllability; problem-focused approaches are more common for controllable stressors, whereas emotion-focused strategies are predominant when stressors are seen as unchangeable.

Problem-Focused vs. Emotion-Focused Coping: The Role of Perceived Controllability

Lee, S. M., Roen, K., & Thornton, A. (2014). The psychological impact of a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia, 13(3), 289-305.

The psychological impact of a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

When people experience painful or stressful situations, they attempt to cope by reinterpreting what's happening and search for a new positive understanding. A person will have to reassess their expectations in order to adjust to new situations.

Meaning-making coping model 

A model that proposes that one's ability to deal with and adapt to issues/stressors is a result of the coping strategies that were used. 

Transactional model of stress and coping 

When a person oscillates between different states of grief. 

Dual process model of loss

A style of coping that involves the management of emotional distress. These coping styles tend to be unhealthy, but there are some examples, like turning to religion, that are healthy in situations in which one has no control.

Emotion-focused coping

Problem-focused coping is a strategy that involves actively trying to alter or manage the source of stress. This approach is similar to everyday problem-solving and is most likely to be employed when individuals perceive the stressor as controllable.

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