Coping Behaviour and Difficult Life Situations of University Students in Russia

Societal Studies. 2016. Vol. 8. No. 1. P. 63–77.

Shmelev I., Pavenkov O.

This article presents an investigation of coping behaviour with regard to difficult life situations among Orthodox students in Russia. It analyses the results of an exploration of the influence of religiosity on different coping strategies. The sample investigated includes Orthodox students from two universities in the Russian Federation. In the study, we used the questionnaire “Me and my attitude towards religion”, Heim’s technique for revealing individual coping strategies, Smirnov’s psychometric technique encompassed in the “Questionnaire of religious activity”, and Shcherbatykh’s “Test for revealing the level of individual religiosity”. The study suggests that different coping strategies can be applied in difficult life situations.

Sociopsychological analysis in the study showed that there is a relationship between the level of religious belief and strategies used to overcome difficult life situations. The presence of a positive connection between protective and capturing behaviour showed that highly religious people are characterised by active non-adaptability. Such people overcome difficult situations with energy and activity, combined with an expression of humility in the face of the situation.

 

Keywords: religiosity, религиозность, difficult life situation, трудные жизненные ситуации, Копинг-поведение, Coping Behaviour, coping strategies