Coping and Personality of University Students
Added on 2023-06-04
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Running head: COPING AND PERSONALITY OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
Coping and personality of university students
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:
Coping and personality of university students
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:
1COPING AND PERSONALITY OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
The challenging nature of universities across the world can lead to university students
facing immense pressure and stress, which may in turn adversely affect their academic
performance and mental health. As of 2018, the number of students enrolling in universities is
increasing at a rapid rate, which can further lead to a number of complicated and perplexing
challenges related to the emotional and physical well being of students. As such, the rate of
mental issues and depression, coupled with stress and inability to cope with building pressure
seems to be ever increasing. One of the main reasons why students are overburdened with stress
and pressure is because they lack coping skills and mechanisms. In psychology, coping refers to
the ability of an individual to better deal with challenging and stressful circumstances in life. As
a matter of fact, the Five Factor Personality Model can be used to understand the personality
traits of university students and the factors which could help them cope with situations in a more
effective manner.
Cummings, Greene and Karraker (2014), coping in psychology means the investment of
one’s own conscious efforts which would solve the interpersonal and personal conflicts, which
would reduce and eliminate stress from a person’s life. Every individual is vulnerable to the
various life situations which invoke stress and pressure and can affect the mental well being of a
person. Coping, thus, refers to the adaptive capability of every individual to deal with these
situations (Skinner, Pitzer & Steele, 2013). Psychological stress faced by college and university
students across the globe has become a matter of concern today. A student entering university
faces a number of issues which include leaving their families, cultural shocks, financial issues,
academic pressure, adapting to change, intense competition with peers along with other serious
problems like bullying or harassment. For most students, university life becomes one of the most
stressful periods in his or her life. A student is constantly under the pressure to succeed, to excel
The challenging nature of universities across the world can lead to university students
facing immense pressure and stress, which may in turn adversely affect their academic
performance and mental health. As of 2018, the number of students enrolling in universities is
increasing at a rapid rate, which can further lead to a number of complicated and perplexing
challenges related to the emotional and physical well being of students. As such, the rate of
mental issues and depression, coupled with stress and inability to cope with building pressure
seems to be ever increasing. One of the main reasons why students are overburdened with stress
and pressure is because they lack coping skills and mechanisms. In psychology, coping refers to
the ability of an individual to better deal with challenging and stressful circumstances in life. As
a matter of fact, the Five Factor Personality Model can be used to understand the personality
traits of university students and the factors which could help them cope with situations in a more
effective manner.
Cummings, Greene and Karraker (2014), coping in psychology means the investment of
one’s own conscious efforts which would solve the interpersonal and personal conflicts, which
would reduce and eliminate stress from a person’s life. Every individual is vulnerable to the
various life situations which invoke stress and pressure and can affect the mental well being of a
person. Coping, thus, refers to the adaptive capability of every individual to deal with these
situations (Skinner, Pitzer & Steele, 2013). Psychological stress faced by college and university
students across the globe has become a matter of concern today. A student entering university
faces a number of issues which include leaving their families, cultural shocks, financial issues,
academic pressure, adapting to change, intense competition with peers along with other serious
problems like bullying or harassment. For most students, university life becomes one of the most
stressful periods in his or her life. A student is constantly under the pressure to succeed, to excel
2COPING AND PERSONALITY OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
and to achieve perfection. Failure to meet standards or fear of disappointment can increase the
level of stress for college students. Coping strategies in this case would refer to the optimized
way in which students are able to tackle the pressure and obstacles that come their way and move
forward without quitting (Nizielski et al., 2013).
Lazarus had defined coping as the behavioral and cognitive efforts put in by an individual
to manage the internal and external conflicts and consequently reduce stress (Biggs, Brough &
Drummond, 2017). Davis and Brekke (2014) however explain proactive coping as a more
optimistic and more efficient way of dealing with stress. Proactive coping may be defined as
the process of anticipating potential stressors and working towards their elimination even before
they occur (Zambianchi & Bitti, 2014). The very word “proactive” takes a positive outlook
towards problem and conflict solving. The theory that was proposed by Schwarzer defined
proactive coping as one of the healthiest and most effective ways of dealing with stress. It may
be explained as the process of seeking out new challenges, creation of new opportunities and the
facilitation of promotion of these challenging goals (Frydenberg, 2014). In other words, this is a
more proactive way of dealing with stressful situations where people take control of the situation
and put in their best foot forward so as to meet these challenges head on (Buunk, Gibbons &
Buunk, 2013). Unlike the other modes of coping like preventive coping, proactive coping
happens to be entirely future oriented in its approach. Proactive coping is extremely different
from preventive coping in terms of technique. In preventive coping, a person is more likely to
anticipate adverse situations and work accordingly. However, in the case of proactive coping, a
person is going to take more constructive and purposeful actions which are positive in nature. A
model was developed in the 1990s which provided a multidimensional instrument for
measuring proactive coping. It consisted of fourteen subscales which would help in measuring
and to achieve perfection. Failure to meet standards or fear of disappointment can increase the
level of stress for college students. Coping strategies in this case would refer to the optimized
way in which students are able to tackle the pressure and obstacles that come their way and move
forward without quitting (Nizielski et al., 2013).
Lazarus had defined coping as the behavioral and cognitive efforts put in by an individual
to manage the internal and external conflicts and consequently reduce stress (Biggs, Brough &
Drummond, 2017). Davis and Brekke (2014) however explain proactive coping as a more
optimistic and more efficient way of dealing with stress. Proactive coping may be defined as
the process of anticipating potential stressors and working towards their elimination even before
they occur (Zambianchi & Bitti, 2014). The very word “proactive” takes a positive outlook
towards problem and conflict solving. The theory that was proposed by Schwarzer defined
proactive coping as one of the healthiest and most effective ways of dealing with stress. It may
be explained as the process of seeking out new challenges, creation of new opportunities and the
facilitation of promotion of these challenging goals (Frydenberg, 2014). In other words, this is a
more proactive way of dealing with stressful situations where people take control of the situation
and put in their best foot forward so as to meet these challenges head on (Buunk, Gibbons &
Buunk, 2013). Unlike the other modes of coping like preventive coping, proactive coping
happens to be entirely future oriented in its approach. Proactive coping is extremely different
from preventive coping in terms of technique. In preventive coping, a person is more likely to
anticipate adverse situations and work accordingly. However, in the case of proactive coping, a
person is going to take more constructive and purposeful actions which are positive in nature. A
model was developed in the 1990s which provided a multidimensional instrument for
measuring proactive coping. It consisted of fourteen subscales which would help in measuring
3COPING AND PERSONALITY OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
the proactive attitudes in university students. Proactive coping is highly important for students
moving to university for the first time (Tielmans et al., 2014). For instance, students who possess
the capacity for proactive thinking and coping would be more capable of identifying and
recognizing potential stressors even before they surface. They would be more inclined towards
effective analysis of the situation and identifying stressors beforehand. This would enable the
students to eliminate the stressors at the very beginning so as to experience less frustration in the
long run.
Larsen et al. (2017) define personality as the various differences in the characteristic
patterns of feeling, thinking and behaving. Personality science may be defined as the branch in
psychology which deals with the study of various personality traits and characters in individuals.
Personality refers to the numerous traits of a person which shape and determine his character. It
also determines the thought process of a person and how he feels and reacts to a certain situation
(Fairbairn, 2013). The proactive coping mentioned in the previous section would largely
depend on the attitude of a person, which is an essential aspect of his personality. Whether
or not a person reacts positively or in a proactive manner to a stressful situation would depend on
his overall perspective of life and his personality. This can be analyzed further by using the Five
Factor Personality Model. The Five Factor Personality Model consists of five essential factors,
which are important for measuring the personality of every individual. They are – openness,
conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism (Salgado & Tauriz, 2014).
Openness refers to the personality trait of expressing more curiosity and being more creative,
innovative, insightful and open minded towards a range of experiences. Conscientiousness as a
personality trait refers to the behavioral tendency to demonstrate dutifulness, self discipline and
an inclination for achievement. This is not spontaneous behavior; instead, it is planned. An
the proactive attitudes in university students. Proactive coping is highly important for students
moving to university for the first time (Tielmans et al., 2014). For instance, students who possess
the capacity for proactive thinking and coping would be more capable of identifying and
recognizing potential stressors even before they surface. They would be more inclined towards
effective analysis of the situation and identifying stressors beforehand. This would enable the
students to eliminate the stressors at the very beginning so as to experience less frustration in the
long run.
Larsen et al. (2017) define personality as the various differences in the characteristic
patterns of feeling, thinking and behaving. Personality science may be defined as the branch in
psychology which deals with the study of various personality traits and characters in individuals.
Personality refers to the numerous traits of a person which shape and determine his character. It
also determines the thought process of a person and how he feels and reacts to a certain situation
(Fairbairn, 2013). The proactive coping mentioned in the previous section would largely
depend on the attitude of a person, which is an essential aspect of his personality. Whether
or not a person reacts positively or in a proactive manner to a stressful situation would depend on
his overall perspective of life and his personality. This can be analyzed further by using the Five
Factor Personality Model. The Five Factor Personality Model consists of five essential factors,
which are important for measuring the personality of every individual. They are – openness,
conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism (Salgado & Tauriz, 2014).
Openness refers to the personality trait of expressing more curiosity and being more creative,
innovative, insightful and open minded towards a range of experiences. Conscientiousness as a
personality trait refers to the behavioral tendency to demonstrate dutifulness, self discipline and
an inclination for achievement. This is not spontaneous behavior; instead, it is planned. An
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