Match the coping style to the stressor
In the transactional model of stress, a person first appraises whether a situation is threatening and then whether it can be changed. Problem-focused coping acts on the stressor itself to change or remove it, while emotion-focused coping manages the feelings the stressor causes. The mother's stressor, the cost of her son's maintenance medicines, is something that can be changed, so problem-focused coping that removes the barrier fits best. Referring her to the hospital's medicine assistance office directly addresses the cause of her worry.
Why the fit matters
Coping is most effective when its type matches how controllable the stressor is. When a problem can be solved, such as by finding financial help, problem-focused coping reduces stress at its source. When a stressor cannot be changed, such as a chronic diagnosis or a death in the family, emotion-focused coping helps the person tolerate what cannot be altered. Using only emotional support for a solvable problem leaves the problem in place, and the stress returns.
| Response | Type of coping | Changes the stressor? |
|---|
| Prayer and sharing group | Emotion-focused | No |
| Referral to medicine assistance office | Problem-focused | Yes |
| Talking about fears with the family | Emotion-focused | No |
| Slow breathing when worried | Emotion-focused | No |
Why the other responses rank lower
A caregivers' prayer and sharing group gives comfort and support, talking with the family lets her express fear, and slow breathing eases the physical feeling of worry. All three are useful, and the nurse may offer them as well, but each manages emotions while the cost of medicine remains unsolved. If the son runs out of medicines, the risk of relapse rises, which would add a new stressor.
Watch out! In psychoeducation for families of people with mental illness, practical barriers such as cost, transport, and access to medicines are common causes of relapse. Linking families to financial assistance and social services is part of the nurse's role.
Exam takeaway
Key point! Problem-focused coping fits stressors that can be changed; emotion-focused coping fits those that cannot. When the question asks for the coping type that best fits the stressor, first decide whether the stressor is controllable.