Coping Skills
(English version is available at the end of the Malay version. Please scroll below).
Kemahiran daya tindak merupakan kemahiran yang sangat penting yang perlu dikuasai terutamanya dalam menghadapi tekanan dan halangan dalam kehidupan seharian. Setiap orang menggunakan kemahiran daya tindak yang berbeza mengikut jenis halangan yang dihadapi. Terdapat dua jenis strategi daya tindak iaitu strategi berfokus masalah dan strategi berfokus emosi. Strategi daya tindak berfokuskan masalah merujuk kepada usaha yang dilakukan untuk mengubah persekitaran yang menjadi punca tekanan, manakala strategi berfokus emosi pula merujuk kepada usaha yang dilakukan untuk mengawal atur semula tekanan emosi.
Kemahiran daya tindak perlu diterapkan daripada peringkat awal dalam setiap individu. Pada peringkat kanak-kanak, strategi daya tindak berfokus emosi boleh diterapkan dengan mengajar kanak-kanak mengenali emosi mereka. Kaedah pertama yang boleh dilakukan ialah melalui komunikasi bukan lisan iaitu mengajar mereka ekspresi wajah yang menggambarkan pelbagai jenis emosi. Kaedah kedua pula ialah melalui komunikasi secara lisan seperti memberi ruang untuk kanak-kanak menghuraikan perasaan mereka dan membenarkan mereka untuk menyatakan perasaan seperti “saya berasa sedih” atau “saya berasa marah”. Seterusnya, kaedah ketiga ialah latihan pernafasan yang boleh membantu kanak-kanak mengawal emosi mereka. Ibu bapa atau penjaga boleh mengajar kanak-kanak supaya menarik nafas dengan dalam setiap kali mereka berasa marah. Aktiviti ini dapat menenangkan kemarahan kanak-kanak. Ibu bapa atau penjaga juga perlu memberi ruang kepada kanak-kanak untuk meluahkan perasaan mereka ketika itu. Hal ini perlu diambil cakna kerana adalah penting untuk kanak-kanak mengetahui bahawa golongan dewasa memahami apa yang mereka rasa dan alami. Seperti golongan dewasa juga, perasaan kanak-kanak juga adalah sah dan perlu dititikberatkan.
Pada peringkat remaja pula, isu seperti masalah akademik, tekanan rakan sebaya, dan penghargaan kendiri adalah antara contoh-contoh punca tekanan bagi golongan remaja. Untuk menghadapi situasi tersebut, golongan remaja perlu mengetahui kemahiran daya tindak yang sesuai untuk digunakan untuk mengelakkan kesan negatif. Sebagai contoh, apabila menghadapi masalah akademik, seseorang individu boleh menggunakan strategi daya tindak berfokus masalah iaitu dengan menyediakan suasana belajar yang lebih sesuai, menilai semula subjek yang kurang difahami, membuat jadual ulang kaji pelajaran, dan belajar secara berkumpulan bersama pelajar-pelajar lain. Dengan mengubah suasana pembelajaran yang merupakan faktor kepada masalah akademik, individu tersebut dapat meningkatkan fokus ketika belajar. Hal ini dapat memberi kesan positif kepada individu tersebut dan seterusnya boleh meningkatkan prestasi akademik.
Akhir sekali, antara faktor tekanan bagi golongan dewasa dan warga emas adalah penyakit kronik, hubungan bersama keluarga, masalah kewangan, dan masalah berkaitan pekerjaan. Bagi golongan dewasa, strategi daya tindak berfokus masalah adalah strategi yang sering kali digunakan ketika menghadapi cabaran. Mereka menggunakan pengalaman dan pengetahuan mereka untuk menyelesaikan masalah yang dihadapi. Sebagai contoh, jika berlaku salah faham antara ahli keluarga, seseorang individu itu perlu menangani masalah tersebut dengan berbincang secara penuh hemah untuk mengelakkan masalah itu berlanjutan serta mengeruhkan hubungan silaturahim. Dalam masa yang sama, golongan dewasa juga menggunakan strategi berfokus emosi, iaitu mereka memerlukan sokongan daripada orang terdekat dalam menghadapi situasi seperti kehilangan orang tersayang. Dalam situasi ini, strategi daya tindak berfokus masalah mungkin kurang sesuai kerana situasi ini tidak dapat diubah dan diluar kawalan mereka. Dengan adanya sokongan daripada orang terdekat, mereka dapat mengawal atur emosi mereka dan menerima takdir kehilangan orang tersayang.
Kesimpulannya, kemahiran daya tindak adalah kemahiran yang penting dalam kehidupan manusia. Tanpa kemahiran ini, agak sukar bagi seseorang individu untuk menyelesaikan masalah mereka. Kemahiran daya tindak juga boleh dianggap sebagai faktor pelindung yang dapat membantu seseorang individu menghadapi rintangan dan cabaran dalam kehidupan dengan jayanya.
Istilah psikologi:
Kemahiran daya tindak = coping skills
Strategi berfokus masalah = problem-focused strategy
Strategi berfokus emosi = emotion-focused strategy
Penghargaan kendiri = self-esteem
Rujukan
Chen, Y., Peng, Y., Xu, H., & O’Brien, W. H. (2017). Age differences in stress and coping: Problem-focused strategies mediate the relationship between age and positive affect. The International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 86(4), 347–363. https://doi.org/10.1177/0091415017720890
De Minzi, M. C. R., & Sacchi, C. (2005). Stressful situations and coping strategies in relation to age. Psychological Reports, 97(2), 405–418. https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.97.2.405-418
Morin, A. (2020). 15 Coping strategies for kids: Simple skills can help kids embrace their emotions. Verywellfamily. https://www.verywellfamily.com/coping-skills-for-kids-4586871
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Coping Skills
Coping skills are essential skills that need to be mastered, especially in dealing with stress and obstacles in daily life. Every individual uses different coping skills according to the type of obstacles that they face. There are two types of coping strategies, which are problem-focused and emotion-focused. Problem-focused refers to the efforts made to change the environment because of the stress factors, while emotion-focused coping skills refer to efforts made to reorganize the emotional stress.
Coping skills need to be applied from an early stage in each individual. At the childhood stage, coping skills that focus on emotions can be applied by teaching the children to recognize their emotions. The first method that can be done is through non-verbal communication, which is to teach them facial expressions that describe various types of emotions. Meanwhile, the second method is verbal communication. For example, giving space for children to describe and express their feelings, such as “I feel sad” or “I feel angry”. The third method is breathing exercises that can help children to control their emotions. Parents or guardians can teach them to take a deep breath whenever they feel angry. This activity can calm the children’s anger, and parents or guardians should play their roles by giving the children space to express their feelings at that time. This needs to be considered as the child needs to know that the adults acknowledge what they are feeling and experiencing. Like adults, children’s feelings are also valid and need to be emphasized.
Issues such as academic problems, peer pressure, and low self-esteem are examples of stress at the adolescent stage. To cope with these issues, adolescents need to know the appropriate coping skills that can be used to avoid negative effects in their life. For example, with regard to academic problems, they can use problem-focused coping skills by creating a more conducive learning environment, reevaluating poorly understood subjects, creating revision schedules, and studying in groups with other students. Changing the learning environment, which is one of the academic problems’ factors, can increase the focus as learning takes place. This can lead to a positive impact on the individual and, in turn, can improve their academic performance.
Finally, stress factors among adults and the elderly are chronic illness, family relationships, financial problems, and work-related problems. For adults, problem-focused coping skills are a strategy that is often used when they face challenges. In particular, they use their experience and knowledge to solve the problems they face. For example, if there is a misunderstanding between family members, the individual needs to solve the problem by discussing it carefully to avoid further problems and straining the relationship. At the same time, adults also use emotion-focused coping skills whenever they need support from their loved ones in dealing with situations such as the loss of a loved one. In these situations, they cannot use problem-focused coping skills because these situations are unchangeable and beyond their control. With the support of those closest to them, they can control their emotions and accept the fate of losing a loved one.
To conclude, coping skills are important skills in our lives. Without them, it will be difficult for individuals to deal with problems without ending up with adverse effects in their life. Coping skills can also be considered a protective factor that will help individuals successfully face the obstacles and challenges in their lives.
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Tentang penulis:
Nur ‘Amirah Azman ialah pelajar jurusan Psikologi tahun tiga di Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia yang sedang menjalani latihan industri di Psychology Services Unit (PSU) pada sesi Semester 3, 2020/2021.
Author: Amirah Azman (Undergraduate Intern for Psychology Services Unit, Sem 3, 2020-2021).
Translator: Nur Aina Azman (Undergraduate Intern for ImPACT, Sem 3, 2020 - 2021).
Disemak dan disunting oleh/Checked and edited by: Dr Nor Diana Mohd Mahudin
Note: This article gives the views of the Author, and not the position of the Department of Psychology IIUM Blog, nor of the Department of Psychology IIUM.
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