Gender Differences in Coping with Stress

The present research explored gender differences in coping with stress. Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) cognitive model of coping with stress was used as the theoretical basis for this research. The sample was composed of 616 students between the age ranges of 18-25 years, from different public colleges at Lahore, Pakistan. Carver, Scheier, and Weintraub's (1989) Coping Orientation to Problem Experienced (COPE) was individually administered to assess the participants coping strategies under stress. Permission has already been granted by the relevant author to use this test in the current research project. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (Version 16.0) was used to calculate percentages for gender. Results suggest that there is significant difference in percentages of gender and adaptation of different strategies. The findings of this research have implications for utilization of coping strategies by graduate students when they are under stress in Pakistani society.