Coping Strategies Employed by Students to Address Stress Emanating From Socio-Economic and Academic Challenges: A Study of Nyadire Teachers’ College in Zimbabwe

The study sought to examine coping strategies employed by students at Nyadire Teachers’ College, to address stress caused by socio-economic and academic challenges. The study employed a purposive sampling technique. The sample comprised seventy students and ten lecturers. Data were collected through structured interviews and focus group discussions. The study found out that both male and female students at this institution of higher learning experienced stress as result of socio-economic and academic challenges such as failing to raise fees, lack of study kits, inadequate stationery, sexual harassment, loneliness, stressful workload and relationship related problems. To overcome the stress, the students employed a variety of coping strategies which included relaxing, listening to music, drug and alcohol abuse, prostitution, engaging in small scale projects, seeking spiritual help and sharing the problems with friends and relatives. Coping strategies such as seeking counselling services, sharing problems with family members and engaging in small scale projects were considered effective coping strategies. The study recommended that colleges ought to have vibrant psycho-social support systems such as counselling to help students cope with stressful situations.