eISSN: 2449-8580
ISSN: 1734-3402
Family Medicine & Primary Care Review
Current issue Archive Manuscripts accepted About the journal Editorial board Reviewers Subscription Contact Instructions for authors Publication charge Ethical standards and procedures
Editorial System
Submit your Manuscript
SCImago Journal & Country Rank
Search

Open access

without publication fees
1/2024
vol. 26
 
Share:
Send email
Share:
abstract:
Original paper

Comparison of stress perceptions and coping strategies among students exposed to COVID-19 in countries with different approaches to anti-pandemic activities

Andriej Szpakow
1
,
Elżbieta Krajewska-Kułak
2
,
Mateusz Cybulski
2
,
Małgorzata Andryszczyk
3
,
Ewa Kleszczewska
3
,
Yelena Loginovich
4
,
Emilia Kolarzyk
5
,
Krystyna Kowalczuk
2
,
Jakub Owoc
6

  1. Department of Nursing, International Academy of Applied Sciences in Lomza, Lomza, Poland
  2. Department of Integrated Medical Care, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
  3. Department of Health Care, Prof. Edward F. Szczepanik State Vocational College in Suwalki, Poland
  4. Institute of Biology System and Genetic Research, Lithuanian University of Health Science, Kaunas, Lithuania
  5. Department of Dietetics, Cracow Higher School of the Health Promotion, Cracow, Poland
  6. Department of Gerontology, Public Health and Didactics, National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Warsaw, Poland
Family Medicine & Primary Care Review 2024; 26(1): 77–84
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/fmpcr.2024.134707
Online publish date: 2024/03/15
View full text Get citation
 
PlumX metrics:
Background
Assessing stress and ways of coping with it during the COVID-19 pandemic may serve to mitigate the negative effects associated with the course of the disease.

Objectives
The objective was to compare stress perception and coping strategies in students affected and those not affected by COVID-19 from neighbouring countries with diverse anti-pandemic policies.

Material and methods
A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 4,983 students (1,464 males and 3,519 females) from four neighbouring countries between April and May 2022. Students from countries implementing similar restrictive measures to prevent COVID-19 infections were grouped together (Group I: 1,822 students from northeastern Poland, 232 from Lithuania and 1,896 from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad). Group II consisted of 1,033 students from Belarus, where minimal restrictive actions were implemented. The study assessed stress levels and coping strategies in students who had recovered from COVID-19. Standard questionnaires (Perceived Stress Scale-10 and Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced) were used for data collection.

Results
The COVID-19 incidence rate was lower among students in Group I compared to Group II, with rates of 34.2% and 39.7%, respectively. Additionally, the vaccination rate of 71.7% was higher in Group I than the 39.1% in Group II. Anti-pandemic policy-wise, the study showed that participants from Belarus were significantly more likely to try to “escape reality” and less actively engaging in stress coping activities. They had higher rates of helplessness and problem avoidance.

Conclusions
The study provides a starting point for further transnational research aimed at assessing the mental health of students and developing optimal actions for public health in populations affected by COVID-19.

keywords:

students, coping skills, COVID-19, patients

  
Termedia
About us Contact
Copyright notice Privacy policy Advertising policy Contact us
Quick links
Journals Books eBooks Events
© 2024 Termedia Sp. z o.o.
Developed by Bentus.