Health problems and coping with them – from denial to the positive emotions

Health problems are a common source of psychological stress. As such, they initiate the coping process. In the article considering them in the framework of the stress and coping theory is recommended to create reliable foundations of prophylaxis, health promotion, treatment and rehabilitation. In the historical conceptualization of coping by Maslow the notion was limited to the instrumental component of human activity, in contradiction to its expressive forms. The classical paradigm by Lazarus and Folkman broadened the scope of coping, distinguishing its instrumental and expressive functions. Further research development led to the clarification of two forms of coping in terms of timing: reactive (dealing with past or present stressful encounters) and proactive (directed toward future threats and challenges). Another contemporary achievement is growing knowledge about the significance of positive emotions in the coping process. Studies are needed about coping aimed at arousing positive emotion as the form of emotion-centered coping.Udostępnienie publikacji Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego finansowane w ramach projektu „Doskonałość naukowa kluczem do doskonałości kształcenia”. Projekt realizowany jest ze środków Europejskiego Funduszu Społecznego w ramach Programu Operacyjnego Wiedza Edukacja Rozwój; nr umowy: POWER.03.05.00-00-Z092/17-00