Content Analysis of Reported Coping Mechanisms Amongst College Students
Stress is a prevalent experience among college students and is found to be a factor influencing sleep, academic performance, and physical and mental health (Pascoe et al., 2020). While prior research has identified various stressors affecting students, less is known about the coping strategies they use to navigate their struggles (Labrague et al., 2017). Coping styles have also been identified as a predictor of stress among university students, as negative coping strategies correlate with higher stress levels (Alkhawaldeh et al., 2023).
The study aimed to examine the coping themes reported by a sample of 297 college students with a mean age of 21.03 attending a large Midwestern University. Participants were primarily women (74%), white (51.3%), and heterosexual (62.5%). The investigation was carried out through a questionnaire in which participants responded to a narrative prompt where they identified current stressors and coping habits. These experiences were qualitatively coded into 819 discrete categories using a content analysis as recommended by Neuendorf (2018). 11 categories for stressors, and 8 categories for coping.
Results indicated proactivity, social support, and self-care as the most commonly used coping strategies. Proactivity was defined as participants taking control of their own futures and making decisions to mitigate or address stressors. Social support centered on sharing the burden of stressors by speaking to a loved one or a trustworthy person. Self-care involves organized ways to manage stress revolving mental health support through intentional emotional, mental, and cognitive actions.
The results contribute to a better understanding of the coping strategies of college students in their natural setting. Understanding these behaviors can inform impactful solutions aimed at supporting students to manage their stress more effectively during their academic journey.
Alkhawaldeh, A., Omari, O. A., Aldawi, S. A., Hashmi, I. A., Ballad, C. A., Ibrahim, A.,
Sabei, S. A., Alsaraireh, A., Qadire, M. A., & ALBashtawy, M. (2023). Stress
Factors, Stress Levels, and Coping Mechanisms among University Students. The
Scientific World JOURNAL, 2026971. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/2026971.
Labrague, L. J., McEnroe-Petitte, D. M., Gloe, D., Thomas, L., Papathanasiou, I. V., & Tsaras, K. (2017). A literature review on stress and coping strategies in nursing students. Journal of mental health (Abingdon, England), 26(5), 471–480. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2016.1244721
Neuendorf, K. A. (2018). Content analysis and thematic analysis. Advanced Research
Methods for Applied Psychology, 211–223.
https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315517971-21.
Pascoe, M. C., Hetrick, S. E., & Parker, A. G. (2020). The impact of stress on students
in secondary school and higher education. International Journal of Adolescence
and Youth, 25(1), 104–112.
https://doi-org.ezp3.lib.umn.edu/10.1080/02673843.2019.1596823.