This study aims to investigate coping strategies that activate pessimism in the context of COVID 19. To this end, two sub-studies were conducted. In the first study, an exploratory factor analysis of coping with pessimistic events scale was conducted on 209 university students. It was found that students use strategies such as self-control, coping with spirituality, problem solving, optimistic thinking, social support, denial, putting distance and protecting self-value while dealing with events that activate pessimism. In the second study, a limited subjective well-being model with coping with COVID 19 and striving for goals was tested on 201 teachers. Based on the results, it is found that it has been not enough for teachers to strive for goals to increase their subjective well-being, but it has been also necessary to use strategies to cope with COVID-19 that activates pessimism.