The Pathway Linking Stress to Active Coping: Motivation and the Trait of Resilience

This study explored the pathway that links stress to active coping, which plays a vital role in the process of adapting to stressful situations. Three hundred sixteen college students in Taiwan were involved in this study. Findings showed trait resilience and motivation are two mediators in the pathway that links stress to active coping. Individuals who experience lower levels of stress and present higher levels of self-efficacy tend to have higher levels of motivation and are more likely to become so-called resilient persons. Those who show higher levels of resilience and motivation tend to actively cope with stressful situations. Secure attachment is not involved in the pathway but it directly influences individuals’ selection of coping responses.