EXPERIENCES OF STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES IN STUDENTS WORKING AT A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN MOZAMBIQUE

Abstract

Stress is a mental health problem that affects students from different levels of education, influential on learning and, consequently, on academic success. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of stress, associated factors and coping strategies in student-workers at a public university located in the Mozambican province of Nampula. This is a descriptive and quantitative study, in which 70 students participated who answered a questionnaire of sociodemographic data and Lipp's Inventory of Stress Symptoms for Adults (ISSL), plus some open questions in order to identify the stress factors and coping strategies. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics by calculating absolute frequencies and percentages. There was a greater occurrence of stress symptoms in the alarm and resistance phases, with a predominance of symptoms of a psychological nature (sudden increase in motivation, sudden enthusiasm and sudden desire to start new projects, excessive irritation, excessive emotional sensitivity and constant thinking in a single subject). The following main factors of academic stress were evidenced: overload of academic work, high tuition rates, academic failure, financial difficulties to cover academic expenses, difficulties in assimilating the subject and lack of teaching material. The use of palliative coping strategies was observed in the investigated students. The results suggest the implementation of stress prevention programs through the promotion of institutional policies for academics to develop a repertoire of stress management, both at the university and in their workplace.