Iranian University students' stressors and coping strategies: A qualitative study

Fatemeh Khademian; Azam Aslani; Ramin Ravangard; Mohammad Nami; Samaneh Abbasi; Peivand Bastani

doi:10.4103/jehp.jehp_1278_20

Iranian University students' stressors and coping strategies: A qualitative study

J Educ Health Promot. 2021 Jul 30:10:244. doi: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_1278_20. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Fatemeh Khademian^{1

2}, Azam Aslani^{1

3}, Ramin Ravangard⁴, Mohammad Nami^{5

6

7}, Samaneh Abbasi⁸, Peivand Bastani⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Health Information Management, School of Management and Medical Information Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
² Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
³ National Agency for Strategic Research in Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
⁴ Health Human Resources Research Center, School of Management and Medical Information Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
⁵ Department of Neuroscience, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
⁶ Neuroscience Center, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), City of Knowledge 084301103, Panama.
⁷ Visiting Scientist, Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics, Brain Mapping Foundation, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁸ Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Abstract

Background: Although a certain amount of stress is essential, excessive stress can adversely influence the physiological and mental health. Hence, this study aims to assess common stressors and coping strategies among university students.

Materials and methods: This qualitative study was conducted from October to November 2019 in Iran. Twelve students were recruited based on purposeful sampling to participate focus group discussions (FGD). Transcripts of three sessions of FGD were analyzed applying Graneheim and Lundman (2004) approach, and a thematic network was applied to illustrate the findings.

Results: The finding emerged 78 codes, 14 subthemes, and 4 main themes. Stressors were classified in two main themes, including individual stressors and the social ones. Behavioral strategies and the cognitive ones were among two categories of coping strategies. According to the thematic network, a full stress student affecting the precious stressors and the social, cultural, and the economic context may manage his/her stress applying the coping strategies.

Conclusion: The findings revealed that university students experienced different kinds of stress, and usually, they do not apply right coping strategies. It is important to establish stress counseling programs for university students. Besides, it is proposing to provide 1^st year university students with workshops about the cause of stress and effective coping strategies.

Keywords: Coping strategy; focus group discussion; qualitative research; stress; university students.