ABSTRACT
Stress and coping theory is organised around two important processes: appraisal and coping (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). Appraisal refers to the individual’s evaluation of the significance of an event for his or her well-being and the adequacy of resources for coping. Situations that threaten or harm well-being and that also tax or exceed the individual’s coping resources are appraised as stressful. Coping refers to thoughts and behaviours that people use to regulate their emotions and address underlying problems. The concepts of appraisal and coping help to explain why people respond differently to the same or comparable events. Both appraisal and coping are tightly linked to emotions. Emotions go hand-in-hand with appraisal, and coping efforts are directed at managing these emotions, especially emotions that are stress related.
