As estratégias de coping são orientadas para a redução do stress, envolvendo reações físicas ou emocionais. O objetivo geral deste estudo foi identificar estratégias de coping utilizadas por adolescentes diante de eventos estressores, bem como a manifestação de sintomas de stress. Participaram da pesquisa 220 adolescentes, de ambos os sexos, provenientes de uma escola da rede pública de Porto Alegre (RS). Os instrumentos utilizados foram o Inventário de Estratégias de Coping e a Escala de Stress Infantil. Os resultados demonstraram que as estratégias mais utilizadas foram autocontrole, afastamento e fuga e esquiva. Entre os indivíduos que apresentaram mais sintomas de stress, as estratégias mais utilizadas foram fuga e esquiva, suporte social, confronto e afastamento.

Coping strategies are directed towards the reduction of stress, involving physical or emotional reactions. The overall aim of this study was to identify coping strategies among adolescents exposed to stressful events. Two-hundred and twenty adolescents, ages of 12 and 18 years, male and female, studying in a public school in Porto Alegre (RS), took part of this research. The instruments used were the Coping Strategies Inventory, the Child Stress Scale and school grades. It was found that the coping strategies most frequently employed were Self-control, Withdrawal and Escape-Avoidance. Amongst adolescents with the greatest number of stress-related symptoms, the most frequent coping strategies were Escape-Avoidance, Social Support, Confrontation and Withdrawal.