The Relationship of Coping Strategies, Stress, and Mental Well-Being in University Students

Background: Students face a lot of challenges that can influence their stress levels as well as their mental well-being. The employed coping strategies thus play a role in the relationship of stress and mental well-being. Aim: This study explored the relationship between stress, coping strategies, and mental well-being among university students. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional study design. The scales used in this study were the MHC-SF, the Brief COPE, and the SLC. Analyses conducted in R included an exploratory factor analysis, correlations, and a multiple regression analysis. Results: The findings revealed that students experienced moderate stress levels and lower mental well-being. A negative correlation was found between stress and mental well-being. Analysis showed that problem-focused coping had a positive relationship with mental well-being, suggesting that proactive coping strategies can enhance mental health. Problem-focused and emotion-focused coping showed no moderation effect on the relationship between mental well-being and stress. Emotion-focused coping had no relationship with mental well-being. Discussion: The study highlights the importance of teaching effective coping strategies to university students to improve their mental well-being. Future research should incorporate longitudinal designs, objective measurements, diverse samples, and consistent definitions for coping strategies to enhance generalizability and explore causal relationships.