Coping Strategies and Psychological Adjustment to the Covid-19 Pandemic Among the Ukrainian Students’ Youth

Abstract

The aim: Establishment of emotional and behavioral ways of student response to the coronavirus pandemic, the assessment of dominant coping strategies, and the prevalence of neurotic states and stress among students. Materials and methods: The research used a specially developed questionnaire and a block of psychodiagnostic methods for diagnosing manifestations of neurotic conditions in students (Clinical questionnaire for the detection and assessment of neurotic conditions by K.K. Yakhin, D.M. Mendelevich), the level of psychological stress (Psychological Stress Scale PSM-25) and basic coping strategies (R. Lazarus’ “Coping Strategies” questionnaire). The sample consisted of 213 respondents (119 girls, and 94 boys). Results: Among Ukrainian students, the dominant reactions to the pandemic are depressive disorders, anxiety, and fears, a third of students self-reported autonomic disorders. The stress level is moderate. Girls react to the pandemic situation with more serious mental health disorders compared to boys. The use of all coping strategies was recorded at a high level of stress, which suggests that students have already exhausted their adaptation potential and are maladapted to the current conditions. Conclusions: The study confirms the negative impact of the pandemic on the mental health of young people. The relationship between the type of response to the pandemic and the severity of neurotic disorders and stress was established. Available mental resources to cope with a difficult situation are exhausted, so students prefer to avoid and ignore stressful information. This creates the need for psychological support and educational activities regarding healthcare techniques.