A quantitative and qualitative inquiry into the relationship between self-esteem and coping processes of university students
Year: 2011
Type: dissertation
Abstract: University life brings with it many stressful events, which place varying demands on students. \nDuring this time many students leave home for the first time, have a new found social life, a parttime \njob and also have to contend with the academic expectations associated with third level \neducation. Some individuals are able to deal more readily with these stresses than others. This \nstudy set out to identify the relationship between levels of self-esteem and coping processes, \nutilised by students, with factors such as, age, gender, university programme and the year of \nprogramme from an Irish perspective. \nThe research design followed an Explanatory Sequential Mixed Method Design. The study \ncomprised of two phases, phase one quantitative followed by phase two qualitative on a study \ngroup of 1200 students, 300 chosen randomly from each annual cohort of University of Limerick \nundergraduates. Using a cross-sectional correlational design, two published questionnaires namely \nRosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Folkman and Lazarus Ways of Coping Questionnaire plus a \ndemographic questionnaire were posted to the selected students. A descriptive qualitative design, \nusing semi-structured interviews with eight students, was used to augment and further explain the \nquantitative findings arising from phase one of the study. \nThe response rate was 40% (n = 479). The quantitative data were analysed using both parametric \nand non-parametric methods. Significant associations were found between self-esteem and \ncoping; self-esteem and gender; coping and age; coping and year of university programme, as well \nas coping and programme title. Using thematic analysis, the quantitative findings were further \nexplored in phase two of the study. The arising themes were the Experiences of Stress, Social \nSupports and Coping, and Explaining Self-Esteem and Gender and these are discussed in the light \nof the quantitative results. The conclusions and findings from both phases of the study are \ndiscussed collectively and a range of recommendations, including policy implications and topics \nfor further research, are provided.
Author: Pauline Hartigan O'Reilly
Language: English
Topic: Student Stress and Coping
Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2171526571