Coping Mechanisms for Stress Among Students in Universities

Abstract

Students experience more psychological problems including stress compared to individuals of the same age and to any other population. Stress among students is related to different factors including transition to university and high academic expectations. The increasing stress has witnessed many students struggling to adjust and cope. For those not able to cope studies have shown linkage to poor mental health, suicidal tendencies and high drop out from the university. Through coping, one engages in intentional efforts to minimize the physical, psychological, or social harm of stress. Coping includes adaptive coping strategies such as problem-focused, emotion focused, meaning focused and social focused coping. Some students adapt maladaptive coping mechanisms. Understanding different coping mechanisms employed by university students will inform university administrators and stakeholders on how to design and implement programmes aimed at improving student's psychological health and minimize the negative effects of stress.