Coping with stress: What does how we cope with stress say about ourselves?

The new semester has begun, and new stresses are flooding student's lives. As homework, exams, and social drama begin to consume the students' lives once again, they must continue coping with the strains being presented in their lives. We all have different ways to cope, but how healthy are our various methods? How does the way we cope and our personalities influence our interactions with our fellow students? 

These issues were examined in a study performed by the University of Missouri-Columbia. Dr. Gustavo Carlo examined 1557 students between 12 and 15 years of age, examining past behaviors, feelings, emotional stability, and stress-coping strategies. Two methods of handling stress were examined: problem-focused and emotion focused coping. Problem-focused coping involves trying to diminish or purge the origin of the stress. Emotion-focused coping, on the other hand, consists of venting, avoiding the issue, or distracting oneself. Emotion-focused coping was also linked to emotional instability and more frequent aggressive behavior. However, the subjects who relied on problem-focused coping where characterized as being more empathetic and patient. These children had greater control over their feelings. The more emotional subjects, on the other hand, were more invested in themselves and had greater difficulty focusing on eliminating the source of their stress. 

Questions for Reflection:

We see that adolescents with greater control of their emotions demonstrated more effective stress-coping tactics. However, why is it that some children can control their emotions better than others? What influences one's personality? How difficult would it be for one to learn to control their own emotions?

Sources:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120801154845.htm