Stress, Stressors and Coping Strategies Relationships

Stress is defined as emotional changes or disturbances as a result of continual interactions between the person and the environment. Stimulants that cause stress to the person are called as stressors. The ways of the personal responses toward the stressors are known as coping strategies.

In order to understand the relationships between the stress level, stressors and coping strategies, we must understand 3 components that influence the relationships. The 3 components are affective, cognitive and psychomotor component.

Affective component involve in receiving and perceiving stimulants that interact with the person. Emotional Quotient (EQ), Spiritual Quotient (SQ) and Attitudes of the person will influence the person's perception towards the stimulants. This process will lead to either the person perceive the stimulants as stressors or not. If the person perceive it as stressors then it will stimulate the cognitive and the pyschomotor component for further process. In short the affective components act as stress receptors that are influenced by the person's beliefs, motives, intentions and attitudes.

Cognitive component involve in apprasing the stressors. At this level the thought will appraise and analyse the stressors either as challenges or as threats. If the person appraises the stressors as challenges then the stress caused by the stressors will promote the person's performance. However, if the person appraises the stressors as threats then stress caused by the stressors will inhibit the person's performance. Stress that promote the person's performance is called as favourable stress or good stress. Stress that inhibit the person's performance is called as unfavourable stress or bad stress. Stress level of a person will be influenced by the process.

Psychomotor component involve in carry out responses (actions) toward the stressors. The ways of actions are carried out are known as coping strategies. The coping strategies are influenced by the stressors and the appraisal process at cognitive level. Direct influence of stressors will cause fight or flight phenomenon. Continual interactions between the appraisal and the actions toward the stressors will lead to the adjustment of the person's coping strategies. Coping strategies that reduce the person's stress level is known as positive coping strategies. Coping strategies that increase the person's stress level is known as negative coping strategies.

In conclusion, the stress level are influenced by the EQ, SQ, attitudes, how the person appraise the stressors, and the ways of a person responses toward the stressors. Thus it is important for everyone to recognize their stressors and the ways they cope with the stress. By doing this they will be able to find ways that work well in reducing their own stress.