Which coping style involves engaging with emotions rather than solving problems?

• A. Problem-solving
• B. Avoidant emotional
• C. Active emotional
• D. Anxious/preoccupied attachment

Answer: (C)

Coping in response to loss can be categorized as problem-focused or emotion-focused. Engaging with emotions rather than solving problems describes an active emotional coping style. It means you actively process and express what you’re feeling—talking about sadness, crying, seeking comfort, journaling, or using mindfulness—rather than trying to fix the loss itself. This approach helps regulate distress and supports adaptation when the situation can’t be changed quickly. The other patterns involve either taking practical steps to change the stressor (problem-solving), avoiding the emotional experience (avoidant emotional), or reflecting a relationship pattern rather than a coping method (anxious/preoccupied attachment).