How college students are coping with COVID-19: a qualitative study

Abstract

Objective The purpose of this study was to measure college students’ coping strategies and change of lifestyle during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants Students from the State University in California were recruited during July 2020. Methods A total of 11 focus group meetings were conducted. Results Students’ coping strategies were analyzed aligning with the Transactional model of stress and coping - primary appraisal, secondary appraisal and coping efforts, and meaning-based coping. Their physical activity patterns were dramatically changed. They used various ways of managing stress and tried to overcome the unexpected situation caused by COVID-19. Conclusions This study mainly analyzed the three constructs of the transactional model: primary appraisal, secondary appraisal and coping efforts, and meaning-based coping. It is expected that the future study will focus on the last construct, coping outcomes/adaptation after the COVID-19 pandemic to measure the association between coping strategies and their outcomes.