Coping and Well-Being: Coping, Perceived Control, and Compensatory Control in Health

14.3 Coping and Well-Being

Coping

Coping refers to the cognitive and behavioral strategies individuals use to manage the demands of stressful situations. Effective coping can reduce the negative impact of stress on psychological and physical health.

• Definition: Coping involves efforts to deal with stressors and the emotions they produce.

• Types of Coping:

  • Problem-focused coping: Directly addressing the source of stress (e.g., creating a study schedule for exams).

  • Emotion-focused coping: Managing emotional responses to stress (e.g., seeking social support, relaxation techniques).

• Adaptive vs. Maladaptive Coping: Adaptive strategies (e.g., problem-solving, seeking support) promote well-being, while maladaptive strategies (e.g., avoidance, substance use) can worsen stress outcomes.

Example: A student facing academic pressure may use problem-focused coping by organizing their study time, or emotion-focused coping by talking to friends about their anxiety.

Perceived Control

Perceived control is the belief that one can influence or manage the events in their life. This perception is crucial for psychological well-being and can buffer the effects of stress.

• Definition: The extent to which individuals believe they have power over outcomes in their lives.

• Health Implications: Higher perceived control is associated with lower stress levels, better health outcomes, and increased motivation.

• Learned Helplessness: When individuals feel they have no control, they may develop learned helplessness, which is linked to depression and poor health.

Example: Patients who believe they can influence their recovery process (e.g., by following medical advice) often experience better health outcomes.

Working the Scientific Literacy Model: Compensatory Control and Health

The Scientific Literacy Model encourages critical evaluation of psychological research. In the context of compensatory control, it examines how individuals maintain a sense of order and control when personal control is threatened.

• Compensatory Control Theory: When people perceive a lack of personal control, they may compensate by believing in external systems (e.g., government, religion) that provide order.

• Health Relevance: Compensatory control can help individuals cope with uncertainty and stress, but overreliance on external sources may reduce personal agency.

• Application: Understanding compensatory control can inform interventions to enhance well-being by fostering both personal and external sources of control.

Example: During a health crisis, individuals may cope by trusting healthcare systems or government guidelines, especially if they feel unable to control the situation themselves.

Additional info: The above content expands on the brief slide outline by providing definitions, examples, and context for each key term, as would be expected in a psychology textbook section on coping and well-being.