Emotion-focused coping is defined as:

• A. Directly solving the problem to reduce stress.
• B. Reinterpreting the situation to improve mood.
• C. Seeking instrumental help to eliminate the stressor.
• D. Managing emotional reactions to the stressor.

Answer: (D)

Emotion-focused coping centers on regulating your emotional response to stress rather than changing the stressor itself. Managing emotional reactions to the stressor fits this idea because the goal is to lower distress by adjusting feelings, thoughts, or the way you react emotionally. This can include things like calming down, seeking social support, or reinterpreting the situation to feel less overwhelmed. In contrast, trying to solve the problem or obtain help to remove the stressor targets the stressor itself, not just the emotional experience. So, the option that describes modulating your emotional state is the best fit for emotion-focused coping.