Coping-Strategies of Adaptation to the Capital City in Students Who Moved from Other Regions

The present study investigates differences in coping strategies among Russian-speaking students with different levels of adaptation to the capital city. A theoretical analysis of the constructs used was carried out. The information is structured, the understanding of these constructs from both domestic and foreign studies and different approaches are presented. An empirical study was conducted. A cross-sectional design was used in the study. Methods of normality and homogeneity of distribution testing and descriptive statistical analysis were used in the empirical study. Reliability analysis of the applied methods "Short version of the Russian-language COPE-30 coping strategies assessment methodology" (Odintsova, Radchikova, Alexandrova, 2022), Brief Adaptation Scales BSAS and BPAS (Ooki, Vachkov, 2022), C. Rogers and R. Diamond's socio-psychological adaptation diagnostic methodology (Rogers, Diamond, 2006) showed good and high Cronbach's alpha values. Analyses of correlations between the BPAS and PSAS brief adjustment scales and 15 coping strategies showed positive correlations with coping strategies: "use of instrumental social support", "humour", "use of emotional social support" and "use of reassurance". These coping strategies were positively related to both sociocultural and psychological adjustment. Psychological adjustment was positively related to the coping strategies 'mental withdrawal from the problem' and 'turning to religion'. Analysis of differences using the Mann-Whitney U criterion showed significant differences in coping strategies between well and poorly adjusted students: 'positive reframing and personal growth', 'mental disengagement from the problem', 'denial', 'humour', 'behavioural disengagement from the problem'. In addition, the means of these coping strategies were analysed and gender differences were examined.