Perceived Stress, Stress Symptoms, and Ways of Coping in Korean College Students

Abstract

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to identify perceived stress level, stress symptoms, and ways of coping and to examine the influences of perceived stress level and ways of coping on stress symptoms in Korean college students. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive survey study design was used. A sample of 1,056 male and female college students completed the Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument, Symptoms of Stress Inventory, and the Ways of Coping Checklist. Data was analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis using SPSS/WIN 12.0. Results: The perceived stress level, stress symptoms, and ways of coping were found to be significantly positively correlated with one another. The perceived stress level and stress symptoms had a greater positive correlation with emotion-focused coping than problem-focused coping. Perceived stress, emotion-relieving coping, perceived health status, and wishful thinking coping accounted for 37.7% of the variance in college students' stress symptoms. Conclusion: The findings suggest that nurses, while developing and providing stress management programs, need to be aware of the perceived stress level, health perception, and the tendency to emotion-focused coping in Korean college students, as these factors all influence their total stress symptoms.

Psychological Symptoms and Stress Coping Styles in College Students with Somatization

“…Among the leading studies on somatization and coping styles, Hall et al (2011) reported that a higher use of avoidant coping in patients with somatization disorders resulted in increased somatization; Hah YS et al (2010) reported that emotion-focused coping styles had a stronger correlation with somatization than problem-focused coping styles in college students; and Luo et al(2009) reported a positive correlation between negative coping styles and somatization. However, studies on stress coping styles, which may stem from the individual's cognitive factors rather than emotional factors, like depression and anxiety, are still at an unsatisfactory level.…”