COPING AS A COMMUNAL PROCESS

This paper argues for a substantial re-conceptualization of coping. Th e strong focus on emotional distress as the marker of coping efforts h as masked the importance of social functions, processes and outcomes i n coping with life stress, particularly the role of communal coping. C ommunal coping is a cooperative problem-solving process salient in cop ing with both individual and collective stressors. It involves the app raisal of a stressor as 'our' issue and cooperative action to address it. Beyond its important role in coping, communal coping is endemic to notions of social integration, interdependence and close relationship s, and may underlie the resilience of families and other social units dealing with stressful life events. The authors present a framework th at distinguishes communal coping from other individual and social copi ng processes. We also provide an analysis of benefits and costs of com munal coping, a discussion of key factors in its utilization, and sugg estions for further research on the functioning of communal coping in contemporary society.