What coping mechanism is associated with managing emotions caused by stressors?

Emotion-focused coping is a strategy used to manage the emotional distress that arises from stressors. This approach emphasizes addressing the feelings and emotional responses associated with stress rather than the source of the stress itself. For example, someone may use emotion-focused coping by seeking support from friends, using relaxation techniques, or engaging in activities that foster a sense of well-being to alleviate feelings of anxiety or sadness linked to a challenging situation.

This type of coping is particularly useful when the stressor is outside a person's control, enabling them to find ways to cope with the emotional fallout and maintain mental health in the face of adversity. It contrasts with problem-focused coping, which targets the problem directly to find solutions, and avoidance coping, which may entail evading the situation or the emotions altogether rather than addressing them constructively.