Participation in sports is fast paced and exposes an individual to an extremely dynamic environment. Competition can lead to an increase in stress and anxiety in the participants. The method by which these athletes deal with the sports related anxiety is known as coping. Although several studies have examined various coping strategies used by athletes in sports not many have looked at sports related coping in individuals with disability. Universally, coping is defined as “constantly changing cognitive and behavioral efforts to manage specific internal and external demands that are evaluated as taxing or exceeding the resources of the person” Lazarus and Folkman (1984). Therefore coping can be seen as an important conciliator between the stressful events and the emotional and performance related reaction (Crocker, Kowalski, & Graham). Coping has been given a number of different conceptualizations. Earlier it was believed that it was an unconscious phenomenon (*Freud, 1936), whereas in the recent times it is considered as being more of a cognitive and a conscious operation. (endler & Parker,1989; Laarus and …show more content…
The most basic classification divides it into two different categories: problem based coping and emotion based coping (Compas, Malcarne,& Banez,1992; Lazarus and Folkman, 1984). Under problem based coping an individual makes a conscious effort to alter the problem or the demanding situation causing the stress. It is divided into different classes such as solving-problems; planning, looking for new information, an attempt to achieve something, trying to decrease competing behavior. Whereas emotion based coping deals with controlling the emotions that are aroused due to the stressful situations (Crocker, Kowalski, & Graham). Emotion based coping is further divided into denial, relaxation, blaming oneself, avoiding or accepting the situation and wishful thinking. (Crocker, Kowalski, &