Hassles, appraisals, coping and distress: a closer look at the stress process

In this exploratory study, important components of the stress process were under close scrutiny. Subjects self-administered a computer programmed interview, which started with a self-selected daily hassle and went on to examine the person's appraisals of the incident, actions taken towards it and its impact on the person. Its Personal evaluations of coping efficacy and personal decisions of coping consistency were also probed. Results suggested that daily hassles were recurrent and minor in nature; and people tended to make mixed and combined appraisals of these hassles. Perceived coping efficacy affected perceived stress impact and future coping consistency. It seemed that there was a self-monitoring mechanism in the coping process, and people's coping efforts tended to be rather economical.