The selection of coping strategies by university students stratified based on prior covid-19 exposure

Background. The present study examined factors influencing the choice of coping strategies in response to stress caused by the pandemic. The aim of the study was the analysis of the selection of coping strategies chosen by university students stratified based on whether they had previously contracted coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Material and methods. A variant of the COPE questionnaire was used to examine the choice of coping strategies among 876 students of Krasnoyarsk (Russia) during the lockdown. Fifteen coping strategies were assessed in 27.9% students who had COVID-19 and 72.1% who did not have COVID-19, taking into account sex differences. Results. Problem-oriented and active coping strategies were common in both groups. The most common scenarios are active handling strategies (median 6.0). In both groups, respondents rarely singled out (median ≤4.0) the use of psychoactive substances, denial of the situation, and conversion to religion. Females more often than young males used concentration on emotions as a coping strategy. Females who experienced COVID-19 refuse to believe what happened, and choose to seek social support for emotional reasons. Conclusions. The risk of infection and the transmitted illness engendered coping strategies associated with active actions. Passive coping strategies were used less frequently. The tactics used to select appropriate coping strategies for those who have not been ill and who have recovered are similar, irrespective of sex.