Which of the following statements best reflects current psychological understanding about coping with stress?

• A. Effective coping with stress involves using adaptive strategies, such as problem-solving and seeking social support, rather than simply releasing energy in any way possible.
• B. Ignoring stress and avoiding all stressful situations is the healthiest way to manage stress.
• C. Coping with stress is only effective if you do it alone without involving others.
• D. Releasing your energy in any way possible, including aggressive or harmful behaviors, is the most recommended way to cope with stress.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of coping with stress, which refers to the methods and strategies individuals use to manage the demands of stressful situations and reduce their negative impact.
2. Step 2: Recognize that psychological research distinguishes between adaptive (healthy and effective) and maladaptive (unhealthy and ineffective) coping strategies.
3. Step 3: Identify adaptive coping strategies, such as problem-solving (actively addressing the source of stress) and seeking social support (talking to friends, family, or professionals), which are shown to improve psychological well-being.
4. Step 4: Understand that maladaptive strategies, like ignoring stress, avoiding all stressful situations, or releasing energy through aggressive or harmful behaviors, tend to worsen stress or create additional problems.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the best psychological understanding supports using adaptive coping strategies rather than avoidance or harmful behaviors, making the statement about effective coping involving problem-solving and social support the most accurate.