Este estudio pretendio estudiar la contribucion de los estilos de afrontamiento, la com­ petencia percibida en salud (GPS) y las valoraciones primaria y secundaria sobre el afrontamiento situacional. Las relaciones entre la CPS y las valoraciones tambien se estudiaron. La muestra se compuso de 110 estudiantes, quienes indicaron sus reaccio­ nes ante una supuesta tension arterial alta. Los estilos de afrontamiento se asociaron de forma moderada con el afrontamiento situacional. Junto con la CPS, explicaron un porcentaje de variabilidad de las estrategias centradas en el problema y la emocion positiva, similar al mostrado por las valoraciones. La contribucion de las valoraciones frie superior en el afrontamiento emocional negativo. Asimismo, la CPS se asocio con la valoracion primaria y secundaria. Estos datos sugieren que, tanto las valoraciones especificas, como la competencia percibida y los estilos de afrontamiento previos, son factores que determinan la forma de afrontar un problema de salud Palabras clave: Competencia percibida, valoracion, afrontamiento, enfermedad cardio­ vascular. Perceived competence, appraisal processes and coping in response to a supposed cardiovascular problem This study aimed at examining the contribution of the coping styles, perceived health competence (PHC) and primary and secondary appraisals on situational coping. Relations between PHC and appraisals were also studied. The sample was composed by 110 students, who reported their reactions to a supposed high blood pressure. The coping styles were moderately associated wfith situational coping. Together with PHC, they explained a similar percentage of the variability of situational problem-focused and positive emotion-focused coping to the one shown by the appraisals. The contri­ bution of appraisals was higher concerning negative-emotion oriented coping. Furthermore, PHC was associated with primary and secondary appraisals. These data suggest that both, the specific appraisals, and the previous perceived competence and coping styles, are factors that determine the way to cope with a health problem