Which type of coping involves thoughts geared toward managing stress?

Cognitive coping refers to the strategies individuals use to alter their perception of stressful situations and manage their thoughts related to stress. This type of coping involves mental processes aimed at changing the way one thinks about stressors, which can help to mitigate feelings of anxiety or overwhelm. Techniques may include re-evaluating the situation, seeking positive aspects, or employing rational thinking to address and understand the stressor. By focusing on managing thoughts, cognitive coping allows individuals to retain control over their emotional responses and fosters resilience.

In contrast, problem-focused coping emphasizes taking proactive steps to solve the problem causing the stress, behavioral coping emphasizes taking specific actions to deal with the stressor, and emotional coping centers on managing emotional responses to stressful events. While these other forms of coping are also important and effective in different contexts, cognitive coping specifically targets the management of thoughts as the primary means of addressing stress.