Mithali Jain V and Rameshbabu Tamarana
CHRIST (Deemed to be) University
Pages: 170-177
The global spread of the infectious disease COVID-19 was declared a pandemic on
March 12, 2020. The pandemic has adversely impacted adolescents. Adolescence is
a crucial period associated with physical, emotional, social, and cognitive growth. The
numerous stressors have a notable effect on the functionality of adolescents. Coping
strategies contribute to combating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The
study aimed to understand the impact of coping strategies on middle-aged adolescents’
mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The hypothesis was tested on a sample
of middle-aged adolescents of Indian origin between the ages of 13-17. Two self-report
inventories: Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (Brief COPE) and
the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS), were administered to collect the data. A
multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyse the data. The results indicated
that those who practiced emotion-focused and avoidant coping strategies were more
likely to experience depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms. Furthermore, problemfocused
coping strategies have helped middle-aged adolescents combat symptoms
of depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. The future implications include school
counselors accommodating problem-focused coping strategies to lower symptoms of
depression among middle-aged adolescents.
Keywords: coping strategies, anxiety, stress, depression, school psychology, Covid-19