In two studies the relationship between various affect intensity measures and three coping styles, problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping and avoidance coping has been investigated. In the first study, on the sample of 250 respondents we used dispositional affect intensity measures and a measure of three coping styles. The results showed that emotion-focused coping was positively related to all measures of affect intensity notwithstanding hedonic tone, which, to a lesser degree, applied also to avoidance coping. Problem-focused coping showed more differentiated pattern of relationships with affect intensity measures, positive relationships with affect intensity measures of positive hedonic tone, and negative relationships with measures of negative hedonic tone. In the second study carried out on 71 respondents, we used the same measure of coping styles, whereas measures of affect intensity and variability have been derived from daily mood estimates. The results showed that only negative affect intensity significantly predicted avoidance coping. The findings are discussed in the context of various functions of coping styles during affect regulation, and some of their practical implications were mentioned.

dispositional affect intensity, intensity of positive affect, intensity of negative affect, coping styles