Critical Evaluation
A meta-analysis revealed emotion-focused strategies are often less effective than using problem-focused methods in relation to health outcomes(Penley, Tomaka, & Weibe, 2012). In general people who used emotion-focused strategies such as eating, drinking and taking drugs reported poorer health outcomes. Such strategies are ineffective as they ignore the root cause of the stress. The type of stressor and wether the impact was on physical or psychological health explained the strategies between coping strategies and health outcomes.
In addition, Epping-Jordan et al. (1994) found that patients with cancer who used avoidance strategies, e.g. denying they were very ill, deteriorated more quickly then those who faced up to their problems. The same pattern exists in relation to dental health and financial problems.
Emotion-focused coping does not provide a long term solution and may have negative side effects as it delays the person dealing with the problem. However, they can be a good choice if the source of stress is outside the person’s control (e.g. a dental procedure).
Gender differences have also been reported: women tend to use more emotion-focused strategies than men (Billings & Moos, 1981).