What psychological concept encompasses strategies individuals use to manage stress?

Coping mechanisms refer to the various strategies and techniques that individuals employ to deal with stress and challenging situations. These mechanisms can be adaptive or maladaptive, influencing how a person handles stressors. They encompass various approaches, such as problem-solving, seeking social support, or using relaxation techniques, all aimed at reducing stress or its effects on mental and emotional well-being.

In contrast, defense mechanisms are unconscious psychological strategies that protect individuals from anxiety or emotional pain but do not directly address the source of stress. Stress responses typically refer to the physiological and emotional reactions that occur in response to perceived threats or challenges, rather than the strategies employed to manage them. Emotion regulation involves the processes by which individuals influence which emotions they have, when they have them, and how they experience and express these emotions, which can also be tied to coping but is more focused on emotional experiences rather than a broader set of stress management techniques.