IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL EVALUATION AND PHYSICAL REPORT (IJMEPR )

E-ISSN 2579-0498
P-ISSN 2695-2181
VOL. 8 NO. 6 2024
DOI: 10.56201/ijmepr.v8.no6.2024.pg205.212

---

Coping Mechanism and their Effectiveness in Mitigating Academic Stress in Students Engaging in Anaerobic Exercise

G. B. Ogundiran (Ph.D), A. J. Oyeyinka, Ishiaka Garba , Akpan D. D., Ajayi Tolulope Akintunde

---

Abstract

This study investigates the coping mechanism employed by students engaging in anaerobic exercise and their effectiveness in mitigating academic stress. Academic pressure is a prevalent challenge among students often leading to heightened stress levels that can adversely affect mental health and academic performance. Anaerobic exercise, known for its physical and psychological benefits may provide an effective outlet for stress relief. Using a mixed method approach, the research-methods approach, the research involved quantitative surveys assessing students’ level of academic stress, physical fitness and coping strategies, alongside qualitative interviews to gain deeper insights into their experience. Findings indicate that students who engage in anaerobic exercise tend to employ a variety of coping mechanism including problem solving, emotional regulation, and seeking social support. The result revealed a significant correlation between engaging in anaerobic exercise and reduced levels of perceived academic stress, with effective coping strategies enhancing this relationship.

---

References:

American Psychological Association. (2020). Coping Strategy. American Psychological
Association.
Retrieved
from
https://dictionary.apa.org/coping-strategy
American
Psychological Association. (2020). Stress.
American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/stress Bologna, C.
(2019). The scary ways an all-nighter messes with your body and brain. HuffPost.
Retrieved
from
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/what-happens-when-you-pull-an-
allnighter_l_5dd5b559e4b010f3f1d21d30



Brown, T., Bourke-Taylor, H., Isbel, S., Gustafsson, L., McKinstry, C., & Logan, A. (2019).
Establishing similarities and differences among the self-reported academic integrity of
Australian occupational therapy undergraduate and graduate-entry master’s students. The
Open Journal of Occupational Therapy. 7(3), 1-16. DOI: 10.15453/2168-6408.1558
Craft, L. L., & Perna, F. M. (2014). The benefits of exercise for the clinically depressed. Primary
Care Companion to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 6(3), 104–111.
Godara, M., Silveira, S., Matthäus, H., and Singer, T. (2022). The wither or thrive model of
resilience: an integrative framework of dynamic vulnerability and resilience in the face of
repeated stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adv. Res. Sci. 3, 261–282. doi:
10.1007/s42844-022-00069-7
Gong, Z., Wang, H., Zhong, M., and Shao, Y. (2023). College students’ learning stress,
psychological resilience and learning burnout: status quo and coping strategies. BMC
Psychiatry 23:389. doi: 10.1186/s12888-023-04783-z
Kuang, S., Wang, W., Yan, S., Wu, Y., Zhang, Y., Li, J., et al. (2024). Psychological resilience and
depression among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic: the mediating role of
self-forgiveness and the moderating role of isolation. Curr. Psychol. doi: 10.1007/s12144-
024-05701-6
Li, Y., and Guo, K. (2023). Research on the relationship between physical activity, sleep quality,
psychological resilience, and social adaptation among Chinese college students: a cross-
sectional study. Front. Psychol. 14:1104897. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1104897
Schultchen, D., Reichenberger, J., Mittl, T., Weh, T. R. M., Smyth, J. M., Blechert, J., et al.
(2019). Bidirectional relationship of stress and affect with physical activity and healthy
eating. Br. J. Health Psychol. 24, 315–333. doi: 10.1111/bjhp.12355
Sisay, T. (2021). Physical inactivity as a pandemic: daily activities and dietary practices. RMHP
14, 3287–3293. doi: 10.2147/RMHP.S317440
Zhang, Y., Hasibagen, and Zhang, C. (2022). The influence of social support on the physical
exercise behavior of college students: the mediating role of self-efficacy. Front. Psychol.
13:1037518. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1037518
Zou, Y., Liu, S., Guo, S., Zhao, Q., and Cai, Y. (2023). Peer support and exercise adherence in
adolescents: the chain-mediated effects of self-efficacy and self-regulation. Children
10:401. doi: 10.3390/children10020401

DOWNLOAD PDF

---

Back