INTRODUCTION:

Children are the ones who are very vital for deciding how the world is going to be after some years. So if one can do some good in the life of a child then there can be change, at least a slightest change, in the world to come. And if most of them think on same lines then we can hope of a better future ahead. The prosperity of a country mainly depends upon the personality and way of thinking of the people who rule the nation. So we should be conscious enough to give a bright present to our children to get a bright future for our country¹. A child goes through different milestones during his life to become an adult namely infancy, childhood, adolescence and teenage. Each of these periods has got its own peculiarities and children need different type of assistance during these phases. Age related physiological and psychological changes, changes in the family roles and other factors may cause many adjustment problems in these periods for children. Adolescence is an age in which the child may have many adjustment problems²

A descriptive survey was conducted to enrolled 199 nursing students through simple randomsampling (lottery method) and total enumeration technique. The principal measures of the anxiety, stress and copingstyles were; The State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) for state anxiety, Perceived Stress Scale -14 (PSS-14) for stress, and Adolescent Coping Orientation for Problem Experiences (ACOPE) for coping styles. Data were analyzedby usingdescriptive and inferential statistics. ‘Remaining upset’ (55.3%) marked highest among the stressors in nursing students followed by ‘unable to cope stress’ (49.2%) and feeling that things are going away (48.2%). The most common coping strategies were listening radio or music (47.7%), taking help of rabbi or priest (53.3%), and talking to father about our problems (36.7%). The least common coping styles were use of beer-wine (7.5%), smoking (7%) and use of prescribed drugs (4%). Stress and anxiety have weak negative correlation (r=-.131, p<.05)³.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

1. To assess the level of adjustment problems among school students.

2. To assess the level of coping strategies used among school students.

3. To find the correlation between the level of adjustment problems and level of coping strategies used.

4. To find out the association between the level of adjustment problems among school studentswith their selected demographic variables

5. To find out the association between the level of coping strategies used among school studentswith their demographic variables

HYPOTHESES:

· H₁-There will be significant relationship between the level of adjustment problems and level of coping strategies used among school students.

· H₂- There will be significant association between the level of adjustment problems of school studentswith their selected demographic variables.

· H₃- There will be significant association between level of coping strategies of school studentswith their selected demographic variables.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Research Approach: A descriptive approach.

Research Design: Descriptive research design.

Population: School students

Settings: Selected boarding schools, Kottayam, Kerala.

Sampling Technique: Purposive sampling technique.

Sample size: 60school students.

Tools and Technique:

I) Demographic Performa: were used to collect socio demographic data such as age, occupation, religion and duration of work.

II) Modified Bell’s inventory: was used to assess the level of adjustment problems ofschool studentswhich consisted of 24 items having two responses as ‘yes’ and ‘no’

Method of Data collection: Data was collected for a period of one month [10^th May 2017 to 10^th June 2017]. After explaining the purpose and obtaining an informed consent, structured questionnaires were administered to assess their adjustment problems and coping strategies.

Inclusion criteria:

Boarding school studentswho were willing to participate in study.

Boarding school students who were available at the time of data collection.

Exclusion criteria:

Boarding school students who were not willing to participate in study.

Boarding school students who were not available during the period of data collection.

Statistical analysis:

Both Descriptive and Inferential statistics were used to analyse the data [using SPSS version 20 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL)]. Descriptive statistics such as Frequency distribution and percentage were used to describe the socio demographic data. Level of adjustment problems and level of coping strategy was analysed as mild, moderate and severe. Karl Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to find the correlation between level of adjustment problems and level of coping strategies. Chi – square was used to find the association between the level of adjustment problems and level of coping strategy with selected demographic variables. The level P < 0.05 was considered as the minimum accepted level of significance.

RESULTS:

Table 01: Frequency distribution, Percentage and Chi-square values of sample characteristics. (N=60)

Demographic Variables
Age (In years)	Frequency	Percentage (%)
7-10 Yrs.	21	35
11-14 yrs.	20	33.33
>15 yrs.	19	31.67
Gender
Female	33	55
Male	27	45
Religion
Christian	22	36.67
Muslim.	10	16.67
Hindu.	28	46.66
Others	0	0
Duration of stay in boardings
Less than 1year	8	13.33
6-8 hours	13	21.67
9-10 hours	15	25
More than 10 hours	24	40

Table 2: Distribution of frequency, percentage, mean and SD of samples according to level of adjustment problems. (N=60)

Level of adjustment problems	Frequency	%	Mean	SD
Mild adjustment problems.	14	23.33	7.79	0.89
Moderate adjustment problems.	22	36.67	15.05	1.17
Sever adjustment problems.	24	40	20.29	1.19

From Table 2, it can be seen that most to the samples 40% (24) had severe adjustment problems while 36.67% (22) had moderate adjustment problems and 23.33% (14) had mild adjustment problems. The mean score for severe adjustment problems was 20.29 ± 1.19, that of those with moderate adjustment problems was 15.05 ± 1.17, and that of those with mild adjustment problem was 7.79 ± 0.89.

Figure 02: Pyramid diagram showing the distribution of samples according to the mean and standard deviation.

Table 3: Distribution of frequency, percentage, mean and SD of samples according to level ofcopingstrategies. N = 60

Level of coping strategies	Frequency	Percentage	Mean	SD
Inadequate coping strategies.	23	38.33	57.49	7.64
Moderately adequate coping strategies.	22	36.67	95	5.45
Adequate coping strategies.	15	25	111.27	6.64

From table 3, it can be seen that most to the samples 38.33% (23) had inadequate coping strategies while 36.67% (22) had moderately adjustment coping strategies and 25%(15) had adequate coping strategies. The mean score for inadequate coping strategies was 57.49±7.64, that of those with moderately adequate coping strategies was 95±5.45, and that of those with mild adjustment problem was 111.27±6.64.

Table 4: Correlation between level of adjustment problems and level of coping strategies used among school student’s N = 60

Area	Mean	SD	R value	t-value	significance
Level of adjustment problems	15.45 15.45 15.0	4.98
			- 0.87	- 13.26	S*
Level of coping strategies used.	84.83	23.28

S* - Significant at 95%

The data presented in the above table reveals that there is a negative correlation between the level of adjustment problems and the level of coping strategies used among the school students. Since the calculated t value (-13.26) is higher than the table t value (2.392, p<0.05), the null hypothesis (H₀) was rejected and the research hypothesis (H1) was accepted. This means that as the level of coping strategies increased the level of adjustment problems decreased among the school students.

Table 5: Association between level of adjustment problems and selected demographic variables. N = 60

S. No	Demographic variables	χ²	df	Table value	Level of significance
1.	Age in years	3.752	4	9.488	NS
2.	Gender	0.414	2	5.99	NS
3.	Religion	2.277	2	5.99	NS
4.	Duration of stay in boarding.	0.504	2	5.99	NS

NS - Not Significant

The data in the above table shows there is no association between level of adjustment problems of the subjects with selected demographic variables.

Table 6: Association between levels of coping strategies used and selected demographic variables. N = 60

S. No	Demographic variables	χ²	df	Table value	Level of significance
1.	Age in years	2.33	4	9.488	NS
2.	Gender	1.13	2	5.99	NS
3.	Religion	3.2	2	5.99	NS
4.	Duration of stay in boarding.	0.24	2	5.99	NS

NS - Not Significant

The data in the above table shows there is no association between level of coping strategies used by the subjects with selected demographic variables.

DISCUSSION:

The findings in the present study revealed that the mean score for severe adjustment problems was 20.29 ± 1.19, that of those with moderate adjustment problems was 15.05 ± 1.17, and that of those with mild adjustment problem was 7.79 ± 0.89. Most of the samples 38.33% (23) had inadequate coping strategies while 36.67% (22) had moderately adjustment coping strategies and 25% (15) had adequate coping strategies. The mean score for inadequate coping strategies was 57.49 ± 7.64, that of those with moderately adequate coping strategies was 95 ± 5.45, and that of those with mild adjustment problem was 111.27 ± 6.64. There is a negative correlation between the level of adjustment problems and the level of coping strategies used among the school students. This means that as the level of coping strategies increased the level of adjustment problems decreased among the school students. There was no association between level of coping strategy and level of adjustment problems with selected demographic variables.

This result is supported by various studies. The study titled, ‘Stress Reaction and Coping Strategies among Nursing Students in Delhi, aims to identify and analyse the stress, stress reactions and coping strategies among nursing students inresponse to the stress in a nursing college in Delhi. A cross sectional study was conducted among 139 students of a nursing college in Delhi selected from differentbatches by purposive sampling method. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire consisted ofitems on socio-demographic profile, clinical stress, stress reactions and coping strategies after getting writteninformed consent. A majority (70.5%) of study subjects were in the age group of 20-22 years, educated up to post high school (83.4%) and belonged to nuclear families (86.3%). The mean clinical score for stress was 56.8 + 15.7. Maximum number of study subjects (76.97%) reported moderate degree of stress with a mean stress score of 60.18. Studysubjects reported both psychological and physical stress reactions but physical reactions (average-160.2) weremore evident. Study reveals that anticipated coping and seeking social support were the most common copingstrategies.⁴

CONCLUSION:

The study was conducted to assess the adjustment problems and their coping strategies among school students residing in selected boarding schools. The results of the study undoubtedly confirm that most of the samples had inadequate coping strategies andthere is a negative correlation between the level of adjustment problems and the level of coping strategies used among the school students. Level of coping strategies increased the level of adjustment problems decreased among the school students.

LIMITATIONS:

· The study used a purposive sampling technique, so that the generalization of findings remains restricted.

· The study used a limited sample size.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

· A similar study can be replicated among orphan children.

· A comparative study can be conducted between students in the different districts.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Following ethical clearance from the institutional committee, the researcher then obtained formal permissions from the concerned authorities to conduct the study. Also, a voluntary written informed consent was obtained from the study participants after explaining the objectives of the study. Confidentiality was ensured throughout the course of the study.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST:

None

REFERENCES:

1. Puberty and adolescence. (internet). 2008 (updated 2008 Feb 10; cited 2008 Apr 10]. Available from: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/ 001950.htm. retrieved 2010-07-30

2. Christie D, Viner R. Adolescent development. BMJ. 2005; 330(7486): 301-4

3. Rajesh Kumar. Experienced Stressors and Coping Strategies among Nursing Students – A Correlation with State Anxiety. Int. J. Adv. Nur. Management. 2015; 3(1): 20-25..

4. Nirmala Singh, Charu Kohli. Stress Reaction and Coping Strategies among Nursing Students in Delhi. Asian J. Nur. Edu. and Research. 2015; 5(2): 274-278.

Received on 28.08.2023 Modified on 20.09.2023

A and V Pub Int. J. of Nursing and Medical Res. 2023; 2(4):133-136.

DOI: 10.52711/ijnmr.2023.31