Effect of Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies on Resilience and Emotional Reactivity

Abstract

Resilience is a capacity that affects our lives greatly helping us cope better. Understanding resilience increases the scope for trying to enhance it. This study aimed at understanding the effect of perceived stress and coping strategies on emotional reactivity and resilience in males and females. The sample consisted of 181 students (90 males, 91 females) of Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology (Deemed to be University), Patiala. For this purpose, Brief Resilience Scale developed by Bruce W. Smith, Jeanne Dalen, and Kathryn Wiggins et al., Perceived Stress Scale given by Sheldon Cohen, Perth Emotional Reactivity Scale by Becerra and Campitelli and Ways of Coping by Folkman and Lazarus were used. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, t test, correlation and linear regression. The findings suggest that perceived stress and resilience are negatively correlated, while perceived stress and emotional reactivity are positively related. Coping strategies – Confrontative Coping, Planful Problem Solving and Positive Reappraisal are linked to high levels of resilience among students. Distancing, Accepting Responsibility and Escape Avoidance are directly related to high emotional reactivity. Perceived stress and emotional reactivity were higher in females while males were more resilient. The coping strategies confrontative coping, self controlling, accepting responsibility, planful problem solving and positive reappraisal were used more by males and females used distancing, seeking social support and escape avoidance more.