Gender Differences in Adaptive vs. Maladaptive Coping: Implication for Stress Management Intervention and Mental Health Outcomes

Coping strategies represent essential psychological mechanisms that individuals employ to regulate and adapt to stress, with direct implications for well-being and resilience. Prior studies have consistently shown that gender differences influence how individuals use adaptive and maladaptive coping styles, shaped by social, cultural, and psychological contexts. This study examined coping patterns among Indian young adults, specifically analyzing gender-based variations in adaptive and maladaptive strategies. A cross-sectional design was adopted, involving 120 participants (60 males, 60 females) aged 20–30 years, selected through purposive sampling. Data were gathered using a socio-demographic questionnaire, the General Health Questionnaire-12 (for screening), and the Brief COPE Inventory. Independent samples t-tests were used to compare coping strategies between genders. Results revealed that both males and females relied more on adaptive strategies than maladaptive ones, with planning emerging as the most common adaptive method, while humor was the least utilized. Females reported higher reliance on emotional support and greater use of self-blame and venting, whereas males exhibited greater tendencies toward self-distraction. Despite these tendencies, no significant overall gender differences were found. The findings highlight that while coping strategies share broad similarities across genders, subtle distinctions exist that warrant attention. Clinically, this suggests the importance of strengthening adaptive coping universally while designing gender-sensitive interventions to address specific maladaptive patterns. The study contributes to psychological literature by providing culturally grounded insights into coping among Indian youth and offers implications for mental health support and prevention programs.