Coping, emotion regulation, and well-being: Intrapersonal and interpersonal processes

Abstract

An essential component of achieving, restoring, and sustaining psychological well-being is the ability to adapt to the challenges and obstacles of life. In this chapter, we review the literature on coping and emotion regulation as processes by which individuals respond to situational demands, and in particular, negative events. We first define coping and emotion regulation in their historical and theoretical contexts. Then, we review evidence on the roles of intrapersonal coping and emotion regulation in psychological well-being, emphasizing key distinctions between avoidant and approach-oriented strategies as typically maladaptive and adaptive, respectively. Next, we examine the role of social relationships in the processes and outcomes of coping and emotion regulation, including the important roles of social support and intimate relationships in adjustment to negative events such as physical illness. We conclude with a discussion of current issues in the field, including future directions involving individual differences, culture, and biological processes. The reviewed evidence is clear: How people cope with external challenges and emotional demands-and increasingly, how coping and emotion regulation are embedded in rich, complex social contexts-play central roles in psychological well-being.