What type of coping involves preventing an emotional response to a stressor?

The correct choice reflects a strategy that specifically targets emotional regulation in response to stressors. Emotion-focused coping is approached in ways that aim to manage the emotional distress associated with a stressful situation rather than directly addressing the stressor itself. This might include techniques such as seeking emotional support, engaging in mindfulness, or using distraction to lessen the emotional impact of the stressor.

By focusing on altering one's emotional experience rather than the external stressor, individuals employing this type of coping can maintain a level of emotional functioning and reduce feelings of helplessness, anxiety, or overwhelm. This approach is particularly beneficial when the stressor is beyond one's control, as it provides tools to manage feelings effectively without attempting to change the situation itself.

Other coping types, although relevant in their own contexts, do not primarily prioritize emotional response management in the same way that emotion-focused coping does. For instance, problem-focused coping explicitly targets the problem itself to eliminate or reduce the source of stress, while avoidant coping may include denying or distancing oneself from the stressor, and active coping typically involves confronting and managing the stressor head-on. Each has its place, but the core of emotion-focused coping lies in the management of emotions connected to stressful situations.