College students coping with interpersonal stress: Examining a control-based model of coping

Objective: The ways that college students cope with stress, particularly interpersonal stress, may be a critical factor in determining which students are at risk for impairing mental health disorders. Using a control-based model of coping, the present study examined associations between interpersonal stress, coping strategies, and symptoms.

Participants: A total of 135 undergraduate students from 2 universities.

Methods: Interpersonal stress, coping strategies, depression, anxiety, and somatization were assessed via self-report.

Results: Students reporting more interpersonal stress reported more depression, anxiety, and somatization, and they reported less use of engagement coping strategies and greater use of disengagement coping strategies. Engagement coping strategies accounted for a significant portion of the association between interpersonal stress and mental health symptoms. Unexpectedly, coping strategies did not moderate the association between stress and mental health symptoms.

Conclusion: Interventions designed to improve students' coping strategies may be an effective way to reduce mental health problems on college campuses.