Final answer:
Coping mechanisms are primarily employed to adapt to and manage stress, including problem-focused and emotion-focused strategies. Effective coping, combined with social support, contributes to better stress management and overall health.
Step-by-step explanation:
Coping mechanisms are primarily psychological strategies employed to adapt to and manage stress. They refer to mental and behavioral efforts used to handle problems relating to stress. There are two fundamental kinds of coping identified by Lazarus and Folkman in 1984: problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping. Problem-focused coping involves managing or altering the problem causing the stress through strategies like identifying the problem, considering solutions, and taking action. Emotion-focused coping consists of changing or reducing the negative emotions associated with the stress, which can include strategies such as avoidance, minimizing, positive reappraisal, or seeking emotional support.
When it comes to stress management, perceptions of control, effective coping strategies, and social support are crucial. For example, exercise is a commonly used stress reduction technique benefiting both physical and mental health. Additionally, proper social support can buffer the impact of stressors like perceived discrimination, as some studies have shown.