The stressors and coping strategies of college students

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to identify main stressors of college students and the coping strategies adopted with such stress. The study explored possible gender differences in the coping style adopted by college students. Other relevant issues such as bullying, perceived school life as stressful and future academic achievement were also addressed. The sample consisted of 177 college students following the matriculation course in five colleges in Malta: an independent college, an international college, a university college, a church college and the MCAST college. A quantitative approach was adopted. A questionnaire, partly using an adapted coping scale (Kuo, Roysircar & Newby-Clark, 2006) and partly structured questions with close and some open ended questions was used. Results indicate that the main stressors of students were mainly studying, getting good grades, maintaining good relationship with family, having enough money and maintaining romantic relationships. The majority of students did not experience bullying. However, most students felt that they perceived school life stressful and felt anxious about their future academic achievement. Coping strategies of males and female students were more similar. Engagement coping was preferred from collective and avoidant coping by students.