Positive affect and the other side of coping

Although research on coping over the past 30 years has produced convergent evidence about the functions of coping and the factors that influence it, p sychologists still have a great deal to learn about how coping mechanisms a ffect diverse outcomes. One of the reasons more progress has not been made is the almost exclusive focus on negative outcomes in the stress process. C oping theory and research need to consider positive outcomes as well. The a uthors focus on one such outcome, positive affect, and review findings abou t the co-occurrence of positive affect with negative affect during chronic stress, the adaptive functions of positive affect during chronic stress, an d a special class of meaning-based coping processes that support positive a ffect during chronic stress.