Stress and Coping Strategies of Trainee Counsellors during COVID-19 Movement Control Order

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the association of coping strategies and resilience with stress of trainee counsellors during the MCO COVID-19. A survey method by distributing the questionnaire online was conducted among 151 final year students in counselling from public and private universities in Malaysia. They were regard as trainee counsellors undergoing internship in several oraganizations. The instruments used in this study were the Perceived Stress Scale 10 (PSS10) and Brief COPE Scale. The results showed that the level of stress trainee counsellors' acquired during MCO COVID-19 was average. While there was no difference in the level of stress based on gender and level of education of trainee counsellors during MCO the findings showed significance in relationship between problem-focused coping, emotion focused coping and avoidance coping with perceived stress. Based on the findings obtained, this study is able to provide information and knowledge to trainee counsellors to identify the best way of self-care for themselves. Furthermore, the information generated in this study can serve as a guide and reference by those who are interested to design and implement intervention programs or stress management activities of counselling students' self-care as preparation in facing unexpected circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic.