How Are Coping Strategies Associated With Perceived Stress? A Meta-Analytic Review

Abstract

Psychological distress is related to how individuals respond to stressful experiences, highlighting the importance of coping strategies in understanding perceived stress. This study examined associations between coping strategies and perceived stress through a meta-analytic review. A total of 53 effect sizes were synthesized using random-effects models, covering positive or adaptive and negative or maladaptive coping strategies. Positive or adaptive coping was negatively associated with perceived stress, whereas negative or maladaptive coping was positively associated with perceived stress. Substantial heterogeneity was observed across effect sizes. Moderator analyses examined participant type, mean age, survey year, publication year, and continent. Univariate meta-regression indicated that mean age, survey year, and publication year were not significant moderators of either association. Subgroup estimates varied across participant types and continents, although these differences alone do not establish significant moderation. These findings highlight the importance of distinguishing adaptive and maladaptive coping and further investigating sources of between-study heterogeneity.