Date of Award
2007
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Education
Program
Education
Supervisor
Dr. Susan Rodger
Second Advisor
Dr. Alan Leschied
Abstract
A sample of 135 first-year university students living in residence completed questionnaires that measure individual differences in mindfulness (the Mindfulness Attention and Awareness Scale [MAAS]; Brown & Ryan, 2003), coping styles (adaptive detached coping and rational coping, or maladaptive: emotional coping and avoidant coping) (Coping Styles Questionnaire [CSQ]; Roger, et al., 1993), perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale [PSS]; Cohen, Kamarck, & Mermelstein, 1983), and drinking behaviour. Findings revealed significant positive relationships between mindfulness and adaptive coping (rational and detached coping), and significant negative relationships with maladaptive coping (emotional and avoidant coping) and perceived stress. MANOVA analyses indicated significant effects for sex and mindfulness when grouping participants based on mindfulness scores (low, medium or high). Regression analyses revealed that avoidant coping and perceived stress predicted 38.2% of the variance of mindfulness scores. Linear regressions conducted separately for sex showed that emotional and avoidant coping and perceived stress explained 38.4% of the variance of mindfulness scores for females, and avoidant coping and perceived stress predicted 42.8% for males. Findings from this study improve our understanding of adaptive and maladaptive coping styles and increase our understanding of how mindfulness relates to coping styles, thereby suggesting potential ways to enhance counselling service and programming for first-year university students during the often difficult transition to university.
Recommended Citation
Palmer, Angèle, "MINDFULNESS, STRESS AND COPING STYLES AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS" (2007). Digitized Theses. 4977.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/4977