Student and Avoidance-oriented Coping Strategy

International Journal of Psychological Studies

Vol. 2, No. 1; June 2010

Brunei Trainee Teachers’ Coping Strategies for Stressful Situations
Lawrence Mundia
Psychological Studies and Human Development Academic Group
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education
University of Brunei Darussalam
Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong BE 1410, Brunei Darussalam
Tel: [phone] Ext. 2036

E-mail: [e-mail]

Abstract
The survey investigated the extent to which Brunei trainee teachers used the task-oriented, emotion-oriented, and avoidance-oriented coping strategies when in stressful situations. Data collection employed the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations. Participants consisted of 118 educational psychology student teachers at the University of Brunei Darussalam. Of these, 89 (75%) were females while 29 (25%) were males. The sample comprised of
71 (60%) BEd and 47 (40%) PGCE students. Overall, the task-oriented strategy was the most used coping method followed by the avoidance-oriented style. There were no significant gender and program of study differences in the way participants employed the three coping procedures. Age, gender, and program of study were not significantly correlated with the three coping strategies. The coping strategies were found to be distinct ways of reacting to and relieving stress according to the Brunei sample. Further mixed methods research was recommended to gain additional insights on the problem.
Keywords: Stress, Coping, Strategies, Task, Emotion, Avoidance, Student teachers
1. Introduction
Stress is a non-specific physiological reaction to internal and external demands made on the body (Selye, 1974).
Not all stress is bad though. An optimum amount of stress (called positive stress) is required to keep a person challenged and energized (Student Support Services, 2007; Australian Counseling Association, 2007). In addition a small number of studies claim that people learn a few good lessons from

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