coping mechanism
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coping mechanism
Psychiatry Any conscious or unconscious mechanism of adjusting to environmental stress without altering personal goals or purposesMcGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
coping
(kop'ing)Adapting to and managing change, stress, or opportunity (e.g., acute or chronic illness, disability, pain, death, relocation, work, changes in family structure, new relationships, or new ideas).
coping mechanism
Coping skill.coping skill
Any characteristic or behavioral pattern that enhances a person's adaptation. Coping skills include a stable value or religious belief system, problem solving, social skills, health-energy, and commitment to a social network.
Synonym: coping mechanismMedical Dictionary, © 2009 Farlex and Partners