Coping methods among Polish students during Covid-19 pandemic.

Abstract

Objectives: The Covid-19 pandemic changed daily routines and forced people to develop various coping methods. University students were a social group that suffered due to a drastic change in their daily routine. The analysis of adaptation to chronic stress may help in developing more individualized care for people affected by it.

Methods: The examination of coping methods and aggression level was conducted using Brief COPE and STAXI-2 questionnaires on a group of 283 participants, extracted from the initial group of 906 tested students. The study was conducted between the second and the third wave of pandemic in Poland.

Results: The positive coping methods were dominant among the examined group. The most used were active coping, use of informational support and planning. The negative coping methods were inextricably linked to a higher aggression level, and were more prevailing in the female students.

Conclusions: The first symptoms of maladaptive behaviors may be hidden in presumably usual activities and attitudes. It is important to be aware of them in order to provide support for students and other social groups affected by chronic stress.