Stress & Coping MCAT Practice Question

A 22-year-old college student receives a failing grade on a biochemistry exam despite studying for 8 hours. He tells his roommate, "This test was unfairly difficult and poorly written—I would have passed if the professor had taught the material more clearly." Two weeks later, he reports feeling less anxious about his grades and has resumed normal sleep and appetite. In contrast, his classmate who failed the same exam attributes the failure to her own lack of intelligence and inherent inability to understand chemistry. She continues to report persistent anxiety, sleep disturbance, and avoidance of studying. Which of the following psychological constructs best explains the difference in stress recovery between these two students?