RESILIENCY DURING COVID-19: EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF ACADEMIC STRESS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS ON UNDERGRADUATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ COPING AND SELF-EFFICACY

Abstract

The COVID-19 outbreak has significantly impacted the mental health and well-being of university students in Pakistan, who were already facing academic stress before the pandemic hit. The shift to online learning has created additional stressors, such as lack of motivation, bad internet connection, and difficulty in adjusting to new learning routines. This study aims to examine the coping strategies and self-efficacy levels of university students during the COVID-19 lockdown. The Person-Environment Model proposes that how individuals perceive stressful situations determines how they cope with them. Effective coping strategies can mitigate the adverse effects of stress on mental health. The study found that 34% of students were experiencing anxiety and 45% were experiencing depression. Furthermore, students who lack a proper routine and are socially isolated due to the lockdown are experiencing more significant psychological distress, particularly those who have abusive families. Coping is an individual's psychological and behavioral efforts to manage the stressors they face, while self-efficacy refers to the beliefs individuals have regarding their ability to handle stress. Problem-focused coping (active attempts to reduce stress) and emotion-focused coping (using emotions to regulate stress) are the two types of coping mechanisms. High self-efficacy helps individuals interpret potentially stressful situations as manageable challenges, and it leads to better emotional regulation. The study concludes that the use of effective coping strategies and high self-efficacy can help universities to reduce psychological distress among students.