Building Student Resilience: Problem vs. Symptom-Focused Strategies
Resilience is a vital skill for university students as they navigate academic challenges, social pressures, and personal growth. Core to building resilience is understanding how to cope effectively with stress.
Universities can do more to help students build resilience. In addition to teaching students about the strategies discussed below, universities can encourage students to use myGiide to further develop resilience. myGiide offers self-awareness and personalized insights and tips to strengthen students’ ability to manage the novel situations they are facing.
Students should also learn the difference between two key coping strategies and when to use them.
Strategy One -- Problem-Focused Coping
Problem-focused coping involves addressing the root cause of a challenge or stressor. It’s about taking actionable steps to solve the issue at hand, whether it’s a looming deadline, a difficult relationship, or a complex academic task.
For students, this type of coping is particularly effective when the stressor is something within their control. For example:
Overwhelmed by a difficult subject? A problem-focused approach would involve creating a study plan, seeking tutoring, or dedicating more time to the subject.
Stressed about a project deadline? The student could break the project into smaller tasks, set achievable goals, or speak with the professor to clarify any confusion.
When to Use Problem-Focused Coping
Problem-focused coping works best when a student has control over the situation and can take direct action to change it. This strategy fosters a sense of empowerment, as it gives the student agency in solving their problems.
However, it’s crucial to know when this approach isn't helpful. If the problem is beyond control—such as an unexpected life event or personal loss—this approach can lead to frustration. In such cases, students should focus on managing their emotional response to the situation.
Using a tool like myGiide helps students understand cultural differences that may also be impacting their stress, giving them a clearer perspective and actionable insights on how to address both academic and social challenges.
Strategy Two - Symptom-Focused Coping: Managing the Stress
Symptom-focused coping, sometimes called emotion-focused coping, is about managing the emotional and physical symptoms of stress rather than solving the problem itself. This could involve taking a break, talking to a friend, engaging in mindfulness, or participating in a relaxing activity.
This strategy is particularly helpful when a student is faced with stressors beyond their control. For example:
Anxious about an upcoming exam? Symptom-focused coping could involve deep breathing exercises, a brisk walk, or journaling about their feelings to reduce anxiety.
Dealing with a difficult social situation? The student might choose to talk it through with a trusted friend or counselor, helping to alleviate the emotional burden.
When to Use Symptom-Focused Coping
Symptom-focused coping is best for managing emotional reactions to situations that cannot be immediately changed. While it doesn’t directly solve the problem, it equips students to handle the stress in a healthier way, preventing burnout and emotional overload.
Encouraging students to use symptom-focused coping when needed helps them avoid feelings of helplessness. It allows them to step back, manage their stress, and approach challenges with a clearer mind when they’re ready to address them.
Striking the Right Balance
Effective coping isn’t about choosing one strategy over the other—it’s about knowing which to use and when. Students need to learn to assess the situation:
Can I change or influence the situation? If yes, problem-focused coping can help them feel empowered and proactive.
Is the situation beyond my control? If so, symptom-focused coping will help them manage their emotional response and maintain resilience.
For example, a student struggling with balancing work and school might first need to use symptom-focused coping to alleviate immediate feelings of stress, like taking a day off to recharge. Afterward, they can adopt a problem-focused approach, such as organizing a schedule or reducing their workload.
Helping Students Develop Coping Flexibility
One of the best ways educators can support students in building resilience is by teaching them how to toggle between these two coping styles. Resilience isn’t just about pushing through hardships—it’s about helping students adapt to challenges in a thoughtful, strategic way:
Recognize when they have control over a situation,
Understand when to focus on managing their emotional response,
Develop a toolkit of strategies for both problem-focused and symptom-focused coping,
Using tools like myGiide allows students to continuously reflect on their coping styles and receive culturally informed guidance to build resilience in a diverse and ever-changing world. The goal is for students to understand that it’s not about avoiding stress, but learning how to respond to it effectively—sometimes by solving the problem, and other times by managing their response to it.