An investigation into the relationship between stress mindset and stress responses: The role of coping mechanisms

The positive and negative beliefs that people hold about stress influence their psychological reactions during stressful situations. In the long term, intense responses to stress can affect health and productivity. This study aims to examine how coping mechanisms mediate the relationship between stress mindset and stress responses. Additionally, its purpose is to provide rich qualitative insight into how individuals respond to stress on behavioural, cognitive, and emotional levels. A total of 238 healthy adults (Mean age: 28.04, SD: 15.55) responded to an online survey. Stress mindset and coping mechanisms were assessed via the Stress Mindset Measure-General (SMM-G) and the brief COPE inventory. Stress responses were assessed via open-ended questions. Qualitative data were thematically analyzed and transformed into quantitative data through content analysis. A mediation analysis was performed to examine the ability of coping mechanisms to mediate the relationship between stress mindset and stress responses. The thematic analysis categorized behavioural, cognitive, and emotional responses to stress. Within those three supraordinate themes, seven themes emerged. The total stress mindset was found to have significant negative relationship with stress response intensity and avoidant coping. Stress response intensity had a significant positive relationship with avoidant coping. Mediation analysis revealed that avoidant coping mechanisms mediated the relationship between stress mindset and responses to stress. Results suggest that adopting a less negative mindset about stress may lead to more beneficial coping mechanisms, which can, in turn, enhance the regulation of stress responses.