INTRODUCTION

Stress
Psychological stress is defined as "a particular relationships between the person and the
environment that is appraised by and the person as taxing or exceeding his or her resources en
dangering his or her well-being" (Lazams and Folkman, 1984)
H. Selye (1936) defined stress as “non-specific responses that be resulted from a variety of
different kinds of stimuli.
However, Selye's stress theory has only focused on physio-logical stress, and psychological
factors have not been considered. Research on life stress examined the relationship between
diseases and life events. Many studies were conducted for clarifying the psychological factors
related to stress, and the results recreated that psychological factors play a significant vole in
the occurrence and physiological stress responses. of physiological

Stress and Strain

Stress and Strain are complex reactions in which our minds and bodies try to deal with
challenges threats or attacks. The reactions are controlled and sorted out by -parts of the
brain, using hormones and other feedback mechanisms. To work properly, they need energy
and alertness for our mind and body.
Scott and Charteis (2003) defined strain as the "Individual's internal response (i.e. effect) on
which the demand (s) are exercised and perceived as being beyond the Individual's ability to
cope with them."
In most psychological texts, strain refers to the negative responses (or in house cases the
negative consequences) to stress, where the individual can no longer maintain the
energetically arousal or where the coping mechanisms are no longer effective (e.g. Cooper et
al. 2001; Kahn and Byosieve, 1992; Struplex 1987).
In this definition strain refers to a number of different negative responses to stress, However,
strain may actually be only love type of response.

Gas Model
General adaptation syndrome (GAS) is a term that -describes the physiological changes that
the body automatically goes through when it responds to stress.) First developed by Haus
Selye in 1926. GAS is considered to be a formulation of stress... pioneering modern
biological
Have Selye's research in the 1950s defined the three stages of GAS: The Alarms Reaction,
the stage of Resistance, and the Stage of Exhaustion. The move stages your body goes
through, the greater the risk of long-lasting negative effects. Prolonged stress can impact your
physical and mental health.
-Alarm: The alarm reaction stage is the body's initial response to stress. This stage is also
referred to as the figh-or flight response. During this stage, the body's sympathetic nervous
system is activated by the sudden release of hormones.
(The Sympathetic resevous system is a part of the auto-nomic nevrous system, which
regulates functions of the heart, stomach, bladder, and intestines, as well as the muscles.)

-Resistance: The resistance stage is when your body tries to repair itself after the initial Shock
of stress. If the stressful situation is no longer present and you can overcome the stress, your
heart and blood pressure starts to return to pre-stress levels during this stage.
However, if the stressful situation continues for a long time or if you do not resolve the
Stress, your body will never receive a clear signal to return to normal functioning levels. This
means it will to secret the stress hormones and the blood pressure will stay high your blood

-Exhaustion: Prolonged or chronic stress leads to the last stage of exhaustion. Enduring
stressors without relief drains physical, emotional and mental resources to the point where the
body is no longer able to cope with stress.
Signs of the exhaustion stage include:
- Fatigue
- Burnout
- Decreased stress tolerance.
- Positive Stress

GAS is not only triggered by stressors that cause distress Is it can also be distress, it can also
be triggered by situations in which the stressor is considered positive, pleasant (known as En-
stress)

Causes of Stress
There are many different things in life that can cause stress. Some of the main sources of
stress include work, finances, relationships, parenting etc.
In a 2015 Survey, the APA reposted that 72% of Americans stressed about money at least
some of time during the previous month. Signs of financial stress include-
1. In Arguing with loved ones about money.
2. Being afraid to open mail of answer the phone.
3. Feeding guilty about spending money on non essentials.
4. Worrying and feeling anxious about money.

According for the Leuters for disease control and Prevention (CDC), Americans now spend
8% more time at work compared to 20 years ago, and 13% of people work a second job.
Family members, an intimate partner, friend or co-worker, worker. People that may cause
you stress are in all parts of our lives and the stress we experience from these relationships
con affect physical and mental health. Parents are often faced busy schedules that include a
job, and raising children. These demands result in parenting stress. One's personality traits
and the resource's you have available to you tie into all of the above and can be independent
sources of stress as well.

Effects of Stress
The body's automatic nervous system controls your heart rate, breathing, vision changes and
move. Its built-in stress response the "fight-or flight response, helps the body. -face stressful
situations. When a person has long-term (chronic) stress, continued activation of the stress
response causes. Wear and tear on the body, Physical, emotional and behavioral symptoms
develop.
- Physical symptoms of stress include:
- Aches and pains.
- Chest pain or feeling like your heart is racing.
- Trouble in sleeping.
- Exhaustion
- Headaches dinginess or Shaking
- High blood pressure.
- Muscle tension or jaw clenching.
- Stomach or Digestive problems.
- Weak immune systems.

Stress can executed to emotional and mental -like - Anxiety (or irritability), Depression,
Panic attacks and sadness.

Coping
The use of cognitive, and behavioural strategies to manage the demands of a situation when
those are appraised at taxing or exceeding one's resources or to reduce the negative auctions
and conflict caused by stress is defined as coping the American Psychological Association
(2022).

Coping refers to behaviour that protects people from being psychologically harmed by
problematic social experience that importantly mediates the impact that societies have on
their members. The protective function of coping behaviour can be exercised in three ways:
by eliminating or modifying conditions giving rise to problems; by meaning of experience in
a manner, that neutralizes its problematic character and by keeping the emotional
consequences of problems with manageable bounds.
Coping Strategies given by Hindler and Parker
A coping style is a typical manner of confronting a stressful situation and dealing with it.
There are three basic coping styles: task-oriented, emotion-oriented (Endler, 1997)

Task-oriented coping consists of efforts aimed at solving the problem. Emotion-oriented

coping involves emotional reactions; and avoidance-oriented coping involves activities, and
cognitions aimed at avoiding the stressful situation and can be of a distraction or social
diversion nature. One can be also investigate coping in terms of how individuals respond to
specific stressful situations, such as copying with an illness.
Coping with Illness-
There are four strategies that individuals use for coping with illness:
(a) Distraction coping involves attempts to think about anything other than the health
problem or ta engage in unrelated activities;
(b) Palliative coping involves strategies aimed at attempting the unpleasantness of the
illness;
(c) Instrumental coping involves a task-oriented approach as seeking medical advice'; and
(d) Emotional preoccupation coping consists of affective strategies such as ruminating
about the health problem (Endler and Parker. 2000).

Folkman and Lazarus Model of Coping

Lazarus and Folkman (1984) distinguished two basic copping categories, ie problem-focused
and emotion-focused coping, as responses aimed at "managing or altering the problems
causing the distress" and "regulating emotional responses to the problems," respectively
(Lazarus and Folkman, 1984, p.150). They developed the ways of coping Questionnaire
(WCQ) based on the problem and emotion focused distinction to measure responses to stress
during a specified period of time (Folkman and Lazarus, 1980, 1985).

Definitions of coping strategies from the WCQ. -

- Planful Problem-Solving: "deliberate problem focused efforts to alter the situation."
- Escape avoidance: “wishful thinking and behavioural efforts to escape or avoid.
- Accepting responsibility: "acknowledges one's own role in the problem with a
concomitant theme of trying to put things right."
- Positive reappraisal: "Create positive meaning by focusing on personal growth."
- Confrontive Coping: "Aggressive efforts to alter the situation."
- Distancing: "efforts to detach oneself" and "creating a positive outlook.
(All definitions. are derived from Folkman et. al. (1986a, p.995).

Important tests on Coping Styles

Some of the important sales to measure coping are-
- The cope inventory: it was created by Carceer (1989), it is a multi-dimensional
inventory developed to assess the different coping strategies, people use in response
to stress. COPE stands for coping orientation to problems experienced.
- The carter coping self-efficacy scale: similar to the cope inventory, the coping self -
efficacy scale (CSES) was similar to create to measure an individual’s confidence in
their coping strategies when it comes to handling challenges and stressors."
- The dyadic coping Inventory (DCI): the DCI was created Bodenmann (2008) and is
slightly different from the other scales mentioned in the introduction that it was
specifically developed to be used within close relationships.

AIM
The aim of this test who to analyse the level of the coping strategies of the testee with the
help of the Coping Strategies Scale -developed by Prof, Ark. Srivastava in 2001.

METHODOLOGY
Introduction of the Subject
Name: ABC
Age: 19
Gender: Male
Education: BA (hons) I

Material Required
Manual for Coping Strategies Scale developed by Prof. A. K. Srivastava (2001), answer sheet
questionnaire, pen, pencil, paper etc.

Description of the Test

Coping Strategies Scale is used to study the level of coping strategies of the Testee. It
consists of 50 statements related to several coping strategies that people use day to day. It is
as A5 point scale ranging, from "Never" to "rarely", "Sometimes", "most of the times and
Almost Always"

RELIABILITY

Retest Reliability. : 0.92 (N=76)

Spit - Half Reliability:

Approach Coping Strategies: 0.78 (N=120) Avoidance coping strategies: 0.59 (N=120)

VALIDITY

Content Validity:

Content Validity of the tool was ascertained by examining the extent of homogeneity among
the items Constituting 'approach’(behavioural+cognitive+cognitive -behavioural) and
‘avoidance’ (behaviour+ avoidance) coping strategies sub-scales on a sample of 206
randomly subjects of different age, sex and socio-economic status. The obtained homogenity
for indices two sub-scales are given in the following TABLE-1

Sub scales No of Range Median

items of
scores
Approach 15+5+8 0.18*- 0.39**
(behavioural 0.53*
cognitive,
cognitive
behavioral)
Avoidance 14+7 0.16- 0.34**
(behavioural, 0.48**
cognitive)
(**, p>.01)
(*,p>0.05)
TABLE NO.1

Concurent Validity:

Concurrent validity of the scale was ascertained examining the correlation of the scores
obtained on the coping strategies scale with the scores on the measures of psychological well-
being (Mental Health Inventory- Srivastava 1987) and symptoms of neuroticism (P.G.I.
Health Questionnaire wig and Varma, 1978) on a sample of 126 subjects. The obtained
coefficients of correlation are recorded in TABLE2.
 Sub-Scales M.H. Inventory PGI HQ.
Approach- 0.37** -0.26**
behavioral
Approach - 0.33** -0.29**
Cognitive
Approach- 0.39** -0.34**
cognitive
behaviour
Avoidance- 0.21** -0.19**
behavioural
Avoidance- 0.19** 0.09*
Cognitive
. ‘CONCURRENT VALIDITY’

NORMS

The Scores obtained on Strategies Scale Five sub-scales of the coping be categorized as per
following norms to know the extent of coping. (TABLE 3).
Since the norms have yet not been prepared on large sample from diverse populations, the
users of researchers are suggested to prepare the norms for their study are on the basis of the
scores of their own samples as per the guidelines provided in TABLE No. 3

Sub-Scales Low/deficient Moderate High/efficient

Approach- 0-29 30-45 46-60
behavioral
Approach - 0-11 12-18 19-24
Cognitive
Approach- 0-15 16-24 25-60
cognitive
behaviour
Avoidance- 0-27 28-24 43-56
behavioural
Avoidance- 0-13 14-21 22-28
Cognitive
. TABLE NO 3
‘ NORMS FOR LEVEL OF COPYING’
 Score Level of copying
Above median Efficient/High
Copying
Below median Deficient/Low
copying
25th percentile or Deficient/low
below
Between 25th and 75th Moderate copying
percentile
76th percentile Efficient/high
copying
NORMS FOR SAMPLE OF LEVEL OF COPYING
TABLE NO. 4

PROCEDURE

Pre-Arrangement

The testee was comfortably seated in a well lit room under normal conditions. A good rapport
with the testee. All the material required for the test was kept ready was established It was
made clear to the tested that their achievements nor their image in the College nor with
parents

Instructions

The following instructions were given to the tested before the test started-

"There are a total of 50 strategies in this test. A list of a variety of coping strategies which are
usually adopted by people to deal with the situation of stress in different phases of their life,
you have to mention how many you use these Love of strategies to deal with the situation of
stress in different life domains by choose the following five alternative responses. responses
by against the putting tick marks in the squares given against the strategies, do not leave any
statements unresponded. “Never”, “Rarely”, “Sometimes”, “Most of the times” and “Almost
always”. There is no time limit in this scale but it is advised to give the answers of the
strategies as soon as possible.

Actual Administration
In this test, firstly the tested was seated comfortably Land all the instructions were: mode
clear. Then he was provided the answer sheet / Questionnaire for the Capes of Strategies
Scale. He started making responses on. the five alternatives given with each statement. After
all items, scoring was done with the help of attempting and results were made.

Precautions

The following precautions were taken into consideration- • The surroundings were kept quiet.
• The tester did not consult others for answering the statements.

• All the instructions were given to the tester and it was -made sure that he had no issues
taking the test. • While doing the test, the testee was seated comfortably. Scoring was done
properly and Carefully.

Introspective Repost

" I was excited to be a part of this test. I found it very interesting to mark how often I use
different coping strategies and I even got to know more. strategies through the questionnaire.
I was to know the score. I thought the strategies were relevant Land it was not difficult to
mark them."

SCORING

To assess the coping effort or efficiency of the subject the scores on all the 50 items should
not be accumulated- Rather, five categories of coping strategies must be treated. separately.
To obtain separate scores for five coping strategies. However, scores on the items in three
categories. of Approach Coping Strategies (i.e. Behavioral approach: Cognitive Approach,
Cognitive Behavioral Approach) and two categories of Avoidance coping strategies (ie.
Behavioral· Avoidance; Cognitive Avoidance) may be clubbed together to ascertain the
extent of Subject's tendency for Approach and Avoidance coping behavior. (TABLE 5)

Responses & Score

categories
Never 0
Rarely 1
Sometimes 2
Most of the times 3
 Almost always 4
. TABLE 5- SCORING TABLE

RESULT

The result of the

the testee is shown in TABLE 6.

Sub-Scales Scores Interpretation

Approach- 31 Moderate
behavioural
Approach -Cognitive 17 Moderate
Approach-cognitive 18 Moderate
behaviour
Avoidance- 16 Low deficient
behavioural
Avoidance-Cognitive 10 Low deficient
. TABLE NO 6- RESULT TABLE

Interpretation

The aim of this test was to analyse the level coping strategies the tested with the help of the
Coping Strategies in 2001. developed by of the Prof. A.K. Srivastava

According to the American Psychological Association, the use of cognitive and behavioural
strategies to manage the demands of a situation when these are • appraised as taxing. or
exceeding one's resources or to reduce the negative. emotions and conflict caused by stress is
called coping and an action, a series of actions, or a thought process used in meeting a
stressful or unpleasant situation or by modifying one's reaction to such a situation is called. a
coping strategy. Coping Strategies typically involves a conscious and a direct approach to
problems.

The test consists of a total of 50 coping strategies. The responses obtained in the form of tick
marks on the 50 strategies of the coping strategy scale ware quantified. Each item of the
Scale had alternatives ie. "Never" "Rarely", "Sometimes", "Most of the times" and "Almost
Always" is awarded to each item of the scale. The scores range from O to 200.

The testee's score in the five dimensions range from 10 to 31. In the Approach -Behavioral
dimension the tester scored 31. TH Approach Cognitive Dimension, The testee Scored 17. In
the Approach - Cognitive-Behavioral dimension. the tested scored 18. On the other hand the
scores. of the testee in Avoidance-Behavioral dimension were 16 and in Avoidance -
Cognitive dimension, 10.

In the first dimension, Approach Behavioral, the testee's score was 31 which indicates
Moderate level of coping. The testes believes that most of the time, he devotes more time and
energy to meet the thousands of the situations and ask people who have had similar
experiences about what they did to deal with it. He changes priorities and time -distribution in
order to deal with the situation and takes a situation as an opportunity to learn something.

On the other hand he rarely reacts aggressively to those responsible for the situation and
surely ties or goes. for temporary reliefs or solutions. The tested can to work on the Approach
Behavioral Coping Strategies by lowering their expectations for others, engaging in problem
solving as well as maintaining emotional composure while in between a situation.

In the Second Dimensions of Cognitive-Approach, the tester scored 17, which indicates
Moderate level of coping. The tested almost always discusses the problem with people who
he believes would be able to help him and do Something about it. Most of the time, the tester
thinks about the situation and alternatives to the same problem. He sometimes bargains to get
something positive out of a situation but never hastly takes action and waits fox & right time
to do something -meaningful. Instead of bargaining the tester can wait and guage the situation
better to solves the problem directly and attempt the change the source of stress.

In the Approach-Cognitive behavioural dimension the testee should scored 18 which

indicates moderate level of copying in this dimension as well. Although the testee rarely feels
that a situation is inevitable part of life and deals with them normally, be dogs not believe that
it's fate or desire of God. He cleaks with situations positively thinking they could have been
worse most of the time or sometimes even think about people who are in worse situations.

In the Avoidance- Behavioral dimension, the tested scored. to which reflects low/deficient
level of coping. He believes in action and whey leavers a situation and it is or believe that he
cant do anything about it. for immediate relief he sometimes changes to leisure tasks. but
rarely delegates his responsibilities to others. He never devotes time to get sympathy from
without doing anything.
In the fifth and final dimension. Avoidance Cognitive, the tester scored to which reflects low/
deficient level of usage of coping strategies. The tester sometimes accepts the situation and
hopes the situation be better next time but rarely blames himself for the situation and feel
guilty and depressed. He never lets the situation be and believes that time will help although
rarely leaves. the situation to God to take care e of which seems contra- - dicking from the
tester's Perspective.

CONCLUSION

The testee’s score in five dimensions namely Approach -Behavioral, Approach – Cognitive
behavioural, Avoidance Beliavioral and Avoidance Cognitive are 31, 17, 16, 18 and 10
which indicate Moderate. Moderate and Moderate level of coping strategy usage in the
Approach section and low deficiency in both Avoidance dimensions which indicate
functional coping strategy usage.

REFERENCES

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2) Carver, C. Scheir M, & veintrab, J. (1989). Assessing coping strategies: A theoretically

based approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology S6, 267-283. doi:
90.1037/0022-6514 56.2.267

3) Coping. (2016. february 8). Psychology. https://psychology iresearchnet.com. counselling

-process / coping-counselling/

4) Srivastava, A.K. Manual for Coping Strategies Scale. Bhelpur. India Department of
psychology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi