Analysis of stress, coping strategies and happiness of urban and rural students during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The present study aimed to analyze the Stress, Coping Strategies and Happiness of Urban and Rural Students During Covid-19 Pandemic. A sample of one hundred thirty postgraduate students was the subject for the study. Subjects were randomly selected from science departments Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, India. The Brief-COPE (Carver, 1997) 28 item self-report questionnaire assessed effective and ineffective ways to cope with a stressful life event. The DASS-21 developed by (Lovibond and Lovibond, 1995) evaluated recent experiences of stress, anxiety and depression. The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (Michael Argyle and Peter Hills, 2002) assessed happiness. The data were analysed using the SPSS -21 versions. The 2 X 2 Factorial MANOVA was applied for analyzing the scores of coping strategies and Stressful life and the multivariate effect of between subject factor (gender) is insignificant irrespective of age groups, Wilk’s λ=0.98, F (4,123) = 0.58, p>=0.05, multivariate η2= 02. Multivariate effect of within -subject factor (Location) is significant irrespective of gender groups, Wilk’s λ=0.90, F (4,123) = 3.47, p<=0.05, multivariate η2= 10. There is no significant multivariate effect across the interaction between the gender and location, Wilk’s λ=0.95, F (4,123) = 1.67, p>=0.05, multivariate η2= 05.