ABSTRACT
Stress arises when an individual interprets a situation as taxing their available resources. Stress can induce emotional, cognitive, biological, and behavioral disruptions. The process of coping describes the emotional, cognitive, biological, and behavioral efforts that an individual exerts to manage their stress. Stress is often categorized by timescale (i.e., acute stressors, daily hassles, life events, or chronic stressors), whereas coping strategies are often distinguished as emotion- vs. problem-focused or, more recently, approach- vs. avoidant-focused. A wealth of measures captures the various conceptualizations of stress and coping (e.g., the Brief COPE). Several theories describe stress and coping, most prominently the transactional theory and the biopsychosocial model of challenge and threat. Stress and one’s ability or inability to effectively cope with stress can lead to problems with sleep, physical health, and mental health, although some people show resilience and post-traumatic growth following stressful events. Notable areas for continued research include continued innovation of creative yet valid measurement techniques and the assimilation of the stress and coping literature with similar concepts such emotion regulation.
