NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ STRESS COPING STRATEGIES AS PREDICTORS OF THEIR PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING IN CURRENT NATIONAL ECONOMIC CRISIS

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Nigeria was in economic crisis before the America and Iran war which led to serious inflation, unemployment, currency instability and has intensified psychological and academic pressures on university students, particularly in Southeast Nigeria. As students in the region known for dynamic thoughts and actions to survive, they have various kinds of stress coping strategies. These they do to survive and maintain good psychological wellbeing in the crisis moment. This study therefore examined the predictive power of stress coping strategies on psychological wellbeing of university students in Southeast Nigeria. The study was guided by three research questions and one null hypothesis. A descriptive correlational research design was adopted, and a sample of 2,500 students was drawn from a population of 173,751 using disproportionate stratified random sampling technique. Two Standardized instruments: The Lazarus Stress Coping Strategies inventory developed by Richard S. Lazarus and Susan Folkman in 1984 and Ryff Psychological WellBeing Scale (SPWB) were used for data collection. Data were collected through facetoface, onthespot questionnaire administration by the researchers and ten guided research assistants to ensure a high return rate. Retrieved questionnaires were coded and analyzed using SPSS Version 2024. the findings indicated that most of the students have good stress coping strategies and very poor psychological wellbeing. Regression analysis showed that the students stress coping strategies moderately and significantly predicted their psychological wellbeing. The study recommended among other thing that Guidance counsellors should adopt a comprehensive approach to student psychological well-being that addresses both individual skills and systemic challenges. Universities should adopt holistic mental health/psychological well-being frameworks that go beyond individual stress coping strategies. This includes integrating psychological education into curricula, ensuring confidential counselling services, offering financial aid to ease economic stress, and fostering inclusive communities for belonging and peer support. Regular well-being assessments can help tailor interventions to student needs.