GENDER DIFFERENCE IN THE PERCEIVED LEVEL OF STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN KENYA: A CASE OF PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES
Bernard L. Misigo - Department of Educational Psychology, Moi University, Kenya
ABSTRACT
This study investigated Gender influence on perceived stress level and coping strategies of under graduate university students in Kenya. The sample comprised (97 male and 90 female) students drawn from three public universities in the western part of Kenya. Stratified and simple random sampling techniques were used to select the respondents. This study adopted a cross-sectional survey research design. A biographical form and a perceived stress scale questionnaire were used to collect data. Both descriptive and inferential (t-test) statistics were used to analyse data with alpha level set at .05. Results of the analyses showed a significant difference between the stress mean scores of males and females ( df = 185, t = 0235, p <0.05). Female students reported higher stress levels (M =42.23, Sd = 5.90) than males (M= 40.13, Sd = 6.45). Female participants also reported positive stress coping skills such as seeking help from counsellors and friends. Whereas male participants reported negative coping strategies such as taking alcohol and drug use. The findings of this study may be useful in understanding the psychological needs of university students and help university administration put in place strategies that may mitigate against this problem.
