Coping in parenting adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

Coping is defined as the way one thinks and reacts to stressful situations, and the various ways a person may choose to deal with those situations is known as their coping strategies or style (Baqutayan, 2015). While coping is generally regarded as a desirable technique for ensuring one's well‐being, coping styles can be both healthy and unhealthy. When examining the various forms of coping strategies, researchers and clinicians typically use the two basic categories of problem‐focused and emotion‐focused coping. The term problem‐focused coping refers to strategies for resolving an issue that is generating pain by focusing on altering the source(s) of the stress. In contrast, emotion‐focused coping refers to strategies for reducing the negative emotions linked with an issue or stressor. Baqutayan (2015) describes the subcategories of problem‐focused coping as confrontative responding, social support, and planning and the subcategories of emotion‐focused coping as self‐control, seeking social support, distance, positive appraisal, accepting responsibility, and escape/avoidance.