Which coping strategy manages the emotional response to a stressor when the stressor cannot be changed?

• A. Problem-Focused Coping
• B. Social Support
• C. Emotion-Focused Coping
• D. Tend-and-Befriend

Answer: (C)

When the stressor cannot be changed, the most effective approach is to regulate your emotional response. Emotion-focused coping centers on reducing distress by adjusting how you think about and react to the situation—things like cognitive reframing, acceptance, mindfulness, or relaxation techniques help calm the emotional surge even though the external problem stays the same. This internal adjustment protects your well-being in the moment and can prevent emotions from spiraling, which is why it fits best when you can’t alter the stressor itself. By contrast, problem-focused coping would try to change the stressor through actions like planning or information gathering, which isn’t as useful when change isn’t possible. Tend-and-Befriend describes a particular social response pattern aimed at seeking safety and affiliation, not the general strategy for managing emotions, though social support can complement emotion-focused efforts.