COPING BEHAVIOR AS MANIFESTATION OF THE NEED: CROSS-CULTURAL STUDY

Purpose of the study. In the intention of greater generalization of coping behavior research, this work aimed at cross-cultural exploration of coping strategies as a manifestation of need during self-fulfillment of a person. Methods. In order to achieve this goal, an analysis of the perceived stress using «PSS-14» and measurement of coping strategies using «SACS» / «SPSS» were carried out. In total, N = 216 Egyptians (139 women and 76 men; 147 Muslims and 68 Coptic Christians) and N = 109 Ukrainians (multiconfessional group of Christians; 63 girls and 46 boys) participated in the study. Results. Statistically significant group differences were found in the assessment of perceived stress in Muslims and Christians: Muslims feel subjectively less stressed compared to Christians in the situation of academic stress. However, there were no statistically significant differences in the perceived stress between different ethnic groups. Besides, no statistically significant correlations were found between the perceived stress and the coping strategies. Statistical analysis of coping strategies determined by the “SACS” questionnaire did not reveal statistically significant differences in coping behavior between (1) Muslims and (2) Christians in the Egyptian sample. On the other hand, the sample showed differences depending on the ethnic component of ethno-religious identity. Egyptians used the following coping strategies (1) assertive actions, (2) seeking social support, and (3) impulsive actions; while Ukrainians preferred coping strategies of (1) seeking social support, (2) social joining, and (3) cautious actions. Conclusions. It is concluded that the ethnic component of ethnic-religious identity influences coping behavior. It can also be argued that on the one hand, coping is a manifestation of need, and on the one hand, is the result of subjective appraisal of macro-social resources and the ability of a particular culture to provide and convey adequate resources to overcome, on the other.