Table 1 Categorization of Brief COPE strategies (adapted from Carver [14] and Rice et al. [18])
Adaptive | Emotion-focused strategies | |
Acceptance | Accepting the reality of a stressor and learning to live with it | |
Emotional support | Getting moral support from others | |
Positive reframing | Trying to view stressors in a different, positive light | |
Humour | Using humour and making fun of the stressor | |
Religion | Trying to find comfort in one’s religion or spiritual beliefs | |
Problem-focused strategies | ||
Active coping | Concentrating efforts on trying to make the situation better | |
Planning | Thinking hard about strategies to manage the stressor | |
Instrumental support | Trying to get advice or help from other people on what to do | |
Maladaptive | Passive and/or avoidant strategies | |
Denial | Refusing to believe or pushing the reality of a stressor away | |
Self-distraction | Focusing on other things to take one’s mind off the stressor | |
Substance use | Using alcohol or drugs to feel better and deal with the stress or | |
Behavioural disengagement | Giving up trying to manage or cope with the stress or | |
Venting | Focusing on and verbalizing negative feelings | |
Self-blame | Criticizing and blaming oneself for what happened | |