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Stress Perception and Coping Strategies of Students on Both Sides of the EU’s Eastern Border during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Andrei Shpakou

    (Department of Integrated Medical Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland)

  • Elżbieta Krajewska-Kułak

    (Department of Integrated Medical Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland)

  • Mateusz Cybulski

    (Department of Integrated Medical Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland)

  • Izabela Seredocha

    (Faculty of Health Sciences, Academy of Medical and Applied Social Sciences in Elblag, 82-300 Elblag, Poland)

  • Anna Tałaj

    (Faculty of Health Sciences, Academy of Medical and Applied Social Sciences in Elblag, 82-300 Elblag, Poland)

  • Małgorzata Andryszczyk

    (Department of Health Care, Prof. Edward F. Szczepanik State Vocational College in Suwałki, 16-402 Suwałki, Poland)

  • Ewa Kleszczewska

    (Department of Health Care, Prof. Edward F. Szczepanik State Vocational College in Suwałki, 16-402 Suwałki, Poland)

  • Anna Szafranek

    (Faculty of Social and Human Science, Lomza State University of Applied Sciences, 18-400 Lomza, Poland)

  • Beata Modzelewska

    (Department of Biophysics, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland)

  • Ihar A. Naumau

    (Department of General Hygiene and Ecology, Grodno State Medical University, 230009 Grodno, Belarus)

  • Andrei Tarasov

    (Department of Pediatrics and Preventive Medicine, Medical Institute, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, 236041 Kaliningrad, Russia)

  • Ludmila Perminova

    (Department of Pediatrics and Preventive Medicine, Medical Institute, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, 236041 Kaliningrad, Russia)

  • Rafał Modzelewski

    (Department of Foreign Languages, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland)

Abstract

The aim of the study was to compare the perception of stress and the characteristic coping-strategies among students in the context of the different anti-pandemic measures taken in Belarus, Poland, and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. A cross-sectional online survey using standardized questionnaires (Perceived Stress Scale—PSS-10 and Brief-COPE—Mini-COPE inventory) was conducted among 3113 students of seven universities in three neighboring regions on both sides of the eastern border of the EU. The groups that are the most prone to stress are the Polish and Russians students. Among the students from Belarus, 122 (13.7%) have high levels of stress symptoms. Among the respondents from Poland—238 (19.4%), and 191 (19.2%) from Kaliningrad have high levels of stress, respectively. The different approaches of the authorities to the COVID-19 pandemic diversified the choice of students’ stress coping strategies. The behavior of the students from Kaliningrad and Poland was similar. The Belarusian students used active coping strategies less often, while an avoidance-focused style, and denial were more frequent. The neglect of restrictive anti-pandemic measures by the Belarusian students was manifested by a higher incidence of disease and minimal use of vaccinations.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrei Shpakou & Elżbieta Krajewska-Kułak & Mateusz Cybulski & Izabela Seredocha & Anna Tałaj & Małgorzata Andryszczyk & Ewa Kleszczewska & Anna Szafranek & Beata Modzelewska & Ihar A. Naumau & Andrei, 2022. "Stress Perception and Coping Strategies of Students on Both Sides of the EU’s Eastern Border during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-14, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:16:p:10275-:d:891591
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Elizabeth A. K. Jones & Amal K. Mitra & Azad R. Bhuiyan, 2021. "Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health in Adolescents: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-9, March.
    2. Robert Stanton & Quyen G. To & Saman Khalesi & Susan L. Williams & Stephanie J. Alley & Tanya L. Thwaite & Andrew S. Fenning & Corneel Vandelanotte, 2020. "Depression, Anxiety and Stress during COVID-19: Associations with Changes in Physical Activity, Sleep, Tobacco and Alcohol Use in Australian Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-13, June.
    3. Selçuk Özdin & Şükriye Bayrak Özdin, 2020. "Levels and predictors of anxiety, depression and health anxiety during COVID-19 pandemic in Turkish society: The importance of gender," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 66(5), pages 504-511, August.
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    1. Aureliusz Andrzej Kosendiak & Bartosz Adamczak & Julia Bania & Sylwiusz Kontek, 2022. "Stress Levels, Attitude toward Vaccination and Personal Protective Equipment of Students at Wroclaw Medical University during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-14, October.

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