Question

As university students you are faced with a lot of stress in your day to day life. Discuss the coping mechanisms you utilize to help deal with acute, chronic, and anticipatory stress. Are your strategies adaptive and/or maladaptive? Why would people continue to engage in maladaptive coping strategies?

Answer 1

One of the deadliest war that most people fight today is stress, especially the youngsters who attend Universities and colleges struggle hard to manage their life. Three types of stress that they undergo are acute which is day today stress which lasts for less amount of time, chronic which lasts for a long period, probably months or even years and finally, anticipatory which is an expected stress. People who make the decision to fight are the one's who become stronger everyday but people who choose to run or escape will keep running for life.

Acute Stress - Students experience this type of stress almost everyday. They have a regular schedule and programs that they are aware of which if they have a strong planner can execute well. If they don't have a planner, they are going to face it as it happens and this will cause trouble because they are not prepared well. When students are expected to complete a day today task, they feel stressed but if they avoid procrastination, they could avoid most of the stress. These two ways of having a planner and avoiding procrastination are adaptive strategies.

Chronic Stress - Three major reasons cause chronic Stress such as, financial, poor academic performance and relationship will cause chronic Stress on the students. Working part time or getting a bank loan along with available scholarship will take care of the financial struggle. There are lots of opportunities for students to get help such as extra classes, library, peers, professors etc. If they use the help available in the campus effectively, they can improve their performance and overcome stress. Relationship issues could be overcome by understanding that people are different and that ego is the biggest enemy in relationship. Health related problems will also pose a threat but physical exercise, healthy food habits and less technology time are few things one could do to overcome it. They are all adaptive strategies.

Anticipatory Stress - Certain things such as exams, assignments and periodical presentations are expected things in a student's life. The best thing to do about it is preparing well and avoiding procrastination because there is no chance that they could skip or avoid them. Group study and peer help are few other techniques one could try. They are all adaptive strategies.