Stress and Coping in Human Performance: Theory and Practice

Stress and coping are integrated into daily life. Failing to cope effectively with stress has a deleterious effect on health, quality of life, and performance. The coping literature has extensively covered mental and physical health; however, the area of human performance has been ignored. Areas of human performance include work, sport, exercise, rehabilitation, law enforcement, military, and health and disease. This book (1) provides a coherent framework of the study of stress and coping and how stress affects human performance; and (2) reviews interventions (i.e., the use of cognitive and behavioral coping strategies and intervention programs) that have been found to result in effective stress management. The book also includes a discussion of maladaptive or ineffective coping, as well as case vignettes and actual examples taken from media reports, other references, and the author’s experiences as a consultant in sport- and health-related settings. There will be extensive use of tables, figures, and photos.