Which coping style is associated with less adjustment?

• A. Disengaged
• B. Accommodative
• C. Active
• D. Mixed

Answer: (A)

Coping style influences how well someone adjusts to stress. Disengaged coping involves withdrawal, avoidance, and suppression of stress responses rather than actively addressing the stressor or seeking support. This lack of engagement often leaves problems unresolved and reduces access to social and practical resources, leading to poorer adjustment and ongoing distress. By contrast, active coping involves taking concrete steps to solve problems and manage effects, which tends to support better adjustment. Accommodative coping helps by reframing the threat, accepting limits, and adjusting goals, preserving functioning when a stressor can’t be eliminated. Mixed coping can be adaptive in some contexts, but disengagement is most consistently associated with less adjustment.