Perceived-stress and Coping Strategies among School and College Students during COVID-19 Lockdown: A Cross Sectional-survey From Tamil Nadu

During SARS Coronavirus disease (SARS COVID-19) lockdown, teaching and learning carried out through digital platforms. Students may experience fear of missing out on social life social isolation, feeling of uncertainty about their future, boredom and lack of academic performance. So, this study aimed to know how perceived-stress and coping strategies impact student mental health during COVID-19 lockdown in Tamil Nadu. In addition, this study attempts to find out the association between perceived stress and coping strategies.  In total, 102 students (12-19 Years) participants selected from educational institutes across the various districts in Tamil Nadu. An online survey was conducted by using Non-probability convenience sampling technique method. Participants were invited to fill out the Google forms of socio-demographic form, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Brief Coping inventory questionnaires. SPSS version 22 used to find out the association between perceived stress and coping strategies of school and college going students. Overall mean of PSS was 2.23 and high perceived stress was reported in college going students (2.36). The overall coping strategy mean was 4.79 and high coping mechanisms was found in college going students. School students PSS score (mean: 2.07) was not associate with coping strategies (mean: 4.61) and College students PSS score (Mean: 2.36) was significantly associate with coping strategies (4.93) at 0.05 level. The finding of the study was college students had more perceived stress and coping approaches compare to school students. So, the author recommends that the educational institutions can develop innovative teaching pedagogy and career development programme for Virtual teaching.