Academic Stress and Coping Strategies of Veteran Students
Session Abstract
The number of returning veteran students is increasing rapidly. However, limited research has been done focusing on veteran students’ academic stress and their coping strategies. Therefore, the present study investigated the academic stress and coping strategies of this particular student group.
Target Audience
The targeted audience of this session included students, administrators and staff, faculty, researchers, and anyone involved in or interested in understanding and helping with returning veteran students in higher education.
Session Description
The number of veterans attending higher education institutions is increasing. Most of the previous studies aimed attention to the adjustment and transition issues from combat to college life, especially mental health of veteran students. However, limited research explored the academic stress and coping strategies of this particular student group. As a result, this session examines five academic stresses (i.e., frustration, conflict, pressure, change, self-imposed) and five coping strategies (i.e., self-help, approach, accommodation, avoidance, self-punishment) of this population based on different gender, seeking degrees, years away from schools, ranks and service status, and levels of former education. It is expected that this session will help higher education professionals better understand veteran students, as well as helping them improve their learning and achieve their academic goals.