Abstract
The aim of this study is to investigate the coping strategies adopted by college students in
Ireland and how these coping strategies affect student’s levels of perceived stress and life
satisfaction. Data from 150 college students (male=74,female=76) was used throughout the
study which required each participant to complete an online questionnaire which consisted of
a consent form, a brief demographics questionnaire, a modified version of the brief cope, the
perceived stress scale and the satisfaction with life scale. The results found that college
student in Ireland, both male and female, are experiencing stress levels above average and
have average life satisfaction levels. Female students were found to be significantly more
stressed than males who were found to engage in more active emotion focused coping than
females. High usage of avoidant focused coping mechanisms was significantly related to high
levels of stress and lower life satisfaction. Author keywords: life satisfaction, stress, problem focused coping, emotion focused coping
