College of Health Sciences

LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE ON POSITIVE STRESS COPING MECHANISM

ANDRES, JESSA LEE KYLA R.

CACAYORIN, JILLIANE ALTHEA
IBON, LORDSON GEM P.
JUAN, ERIKA MAE D.
RACCA, MARIE NICOLETTE

Submitted to the Faculty of the Nursing Department

Mariano Marcos State University
in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements in Nursing Research I

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING

______________ 2020
 College of Health Sciences

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

"Stress" has been dubbed the "Health Epidemic of the 21 st Century" by the World Health

Organization (2016). It is a nearly universal human experience. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-

19) pandemic is stressful for people. Fear, stress, and anxiety about a new illness and what could happen

can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Health repercussions regarding

what is happening during this pandemic for people will be a problem in general.

According to the 2019 Global Emotions Report Gallup's annual snapshot of the world's emotional

state, about a third of people worldwide were stressed, worried, and in pain. Last year, more than half of

Americans feel pressure and strain for a variety of reasons.

Most Americans (55%) recall feeling stressed during much of the day in 2018. According to The

American Institute of Stress, in the United States, there are about 33% of people report feeling extreme

stress, 77 % of people experience stress that affects their physical health, 73% of people have stress that

impacts their mental health, 48% of people have trouble sleeping because of stress.

Given its recent economic hardships, it hardly comes as a surprise that stress levels remain

significantly high in Greece with 59% of people surveyed there said they are under much stress. The

Philippines and Tanzania had the second-highest stress levels, with 58% and 57%, respectively. The U.S.

is also among the ten most stressed-out nations on the planet with 55% of its population saying they

experienced much stress. That is the same share as three other countries - Albania, Iran and Sri Lanka

(2019 Global Emotions Report)

 College of Health Sciences

According to the Global well-being index, Filipinos were among the most stressed and most

emotional populations in the world last year. Gallup’s annual Global Emotions report found that the

Philippines placed second in the list of most stressed countries, with 58% saying they had experienced a

lot of stress a day before the poll was conducted in 2018.

This pandemic turned out to be a stressor to people due to many reasons like financial incapacity

because of job loss which there were over 7.3 million jobs were lost in the Philippines as its

unemployment rate hits a record high of 17.7% due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Philippine

Statistics Authority (PSA, 2020).

When people are not knowledgeable about proper and positive coping mechanisms and are not

careful and delicate with how they handle this kind of situation, it may cause panic which may further

lead to destructive behavior and psychosomatic and somatic problems very quickly.

Studies have revealed that greater perceived stress level are associated with poorer health status,

quality of life, and higher levels of depression, anxiety, distress, and functional limitations in individuals

with disabilities (Fitzpatrick, et al. 2018) Preliminary evidence suggests that anxiety and depression (16–

28%) and self-reported stress (8%) are common psychological reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic and

may be associated with disturbed sleep. Positive coping mechanisms play an essential role in overcoming

stress led by this pandemic.

At this premise, the researchers are motivated to conduct a research study on the level of

knowledge on positive stress coping mechanisms.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The general objective of the study is to determine the knowledge of the respondents on Positive

Stress Coping Mechanism.

Specifically, the study includes the following objectives:

 College of Health Sciences

1. To determine the demographic profile of the respondents as to:

1. 1 age,

1. 2 sex,

1. 3 civil status,

1. 4 educational attainment,

1. 5 occupation, and

1. 6 place of residence.

2. To determine the level of knowledge of the respondents on Positive Stress Coping Mechanisms.

3. To determine the common stress coping mechanism practiced by the respondents.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study primarily aims to determine the knowledge of the residents of Barangay 9 San

Lorenzo Sarrat, Barangay 23 San Matias Laoag City and Barangay Baligat City of Batac which has the

highest COVID19 cases in Ilocos Norte.

Specifically, the results of the study will serve as an eye-Opener and springboard for the following:

 For the Ilocos Norte residents. This study will improve the perception and knowledge of Ilocos

Norte Residents on positive stress coping mechanisms.

 For the Local Government Units, Rural Health Units, and the Department of Health. This

study will provide basis on planning certain programs and actions related to this study.

 For future researchers. This will provide additional information as a reference for future

researchers who will want to pursue similar studies.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

 College of Health Sciences

This study will focus on determining the level of knowledge of residents of Ilocos Norte on

positive stress coping mechanisms. The study considers the respondent’s personal information such as

age, sex, civil status, educational attainment, occupation, and place of residence.

The study will be delimited only to the residents of Barangay 9 San Lorenzo Sarrat, Barangay 23

San Matias Laoag City and Barangay Baligat City of Batac which has the highest COVID19 cases in

Ilocos Norte ages 21-59. Each of the respondents will be given a questionnaire to answer. And finally, to

gather their honest opinion about the specific problem of the study. The sample size will be determined

using Slovin’s formula.

DEFINITION OF TERMS:

The following terms are defined operationally to give a better understanding of the terms used in

this study.

Socio-demographic characteristics- These refer to respondent’s age, gender, and civil status.

Sex- This refers to whether the respondent is a male or a female.

Age- This refers to the biological number of years that the respondents has lived.

Civil Status- This refers to whether the respondent is single, married, divorced or in a

common-law relationship and whether or not you have children.

Educational attainment- This refers to level of the highest completed qualification reported

for a person in any field of study, or the highest year of school completed.

Occupation- This refers to the job the respondent is employed to.

Place of residence- This refers to where the respondent lives or resides either rural or urban.
 College of Health Sciences

CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter presents the related literature, theoretical framework, conceptual framework and

research paradigm of the study.

RELATED LITERATURE

LEGAL BASES

On January 21, 2020, the Department of Health issued the first memo, which is an Interim

Guidelines on the Preparedness and Response to Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from Wuhan, China

(as of Jan 21, 2020), in combat with the COVID 19 -pandemic. The DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM

No. 2020 – 0034 provided guidelines to all national health security partners and stakeholders so as to take

necessary precautions, prevent and immediately act in the event of entry of potential cases of 2019-nCoV

into the country. Being a novel or new pathogen never experienced by humans, it is considered an

emerging infectious disease and is currently being monitored and the details of the pathogen investigated.

This point stated, WHO guidelines are closely followed and implemented and member states may adjust

recommendations asper their respective context.

Roughly two months later, in response to the arising pandemic, on March 13, 2020, Ilocos

Norte Governor, Matthew Manotoc, issued the Executive Order No. 59-20 which suspended classes both

in private and public institutions indefinitely and mandated the duties of school officials/administrators

and parents/guardians, which included the adoption of and participation in alternative measures for course

completion.
 College of Health Sciences

The following day, March 14, 2020, he signed the Executive Order No. 60-20 placing the

province under community quarantine. Whereas the local governments are to abide by the directions of

the Departments of Health and Interior and Local Government in imposing general community quarantine

in their respective jurisdictions. Specifically, the order activated Task Force Salun-at, which was

previously institutionalized under Executive Order No. 51-20. Under the provisions of EO No. 60-20,

Task Force Salun-at was given authority over the province to deny entry to certain individuals based on

criteria specified in the order, and enforce checking of individuals seeking entry and required clearance,

endorsement, quarantine, and monitoring. The executive order also included provisions for the regulation

of ports and borders; the preparation of health information forms; personal and public preventive

measures; identification of quarantine areas; prohibition of hoarding, reselling, and price spikes; and

prohibition of the spreading of fake news. All of which with the purpose to avert the spreading of the

disease and maintain the status of Ilocos Norte as COVID-free.

SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE

Age

According to the Age and Sex Structure of the Philippine Population (2010), the school-

age population (5 to 24 years old) in the country comprised 41.8 percent of the 92.1 million household

populations. In the Province of Ilocos Norte, it was presented the populations each group and age group

between 20-24 were 49,483 populations.

Stress, by age group, was frequent among 35 to 44-year-olds at 36%. Meanwhile, the survey

showed 25% of 45 to 54-year-old Filipinos live through stress frequently and 24% each among 18 to 24-

year-olds, 25 to 34-year-olds, and those 55 years old and above. The SWS survey also showed that stress

was "more frequent" in urban areas at 31%, compared to 21% in rural areas. SWS also recorded that

stress was "more frequent" in Metro Manila residents, with 35%, compared to the 28% in Luzon and the

Visayas, and 18% in Mindanao. The survey was conducted on Dec. 16 to 19, 2019. It used face-to-face
 College of Health Sciences

interviews of 1,200 adult respondents (300 each in Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao), with

sampling error margins of ±3 percent for national percentages.

From increased stress and anxiety to rising levels of loneliness, the mental health consequences of

the Covid-19 Pandemic are wide-sweeping. A new survey from the American Psychological Association

points to the age group that's been hit hardest: Gen-Z. Gen-Z adults, those ages 18 to 23, reported the

highest levels of stress compared to other generations and were the most likely age group to report

symptoms of depression, according to the APA's 2020 Stress in America survey. More than seven in 10

Gen-Z adults surveyed said they experienced common symptoms of depression in the prior two weeks,

such as: feeling so tired they sat around and did nothing, having trouble thinking and concentrating, and

feeling very restless, lonely, miserable, or unhappy.

So why is Gen-Z hit so hard with stress and depression during the Pandemic? They are

"experiencing adulthood at a time when the future looks uncertain." At the same time, older generations

might have more perspective that enables them to cope with the changes, according to the report.

According to Kevin Antshel, clinical psychologist and director of the clinical psychology

program at Syracuse University, previously told CNBC Make It. "The more things are uncertain, the more

we are going to fear, and the more we fear things, the more we are anxious," he said. Moreover,

prolonged anxiety can lead to depression.

The APA survey took place from Aug. 4 to Aug. 26. When asked to rank their stress level on a

scale of one to 10 the prior month, Gen-Z adults said they experienced the highest stress levels, 6.1 out of

10, compared to other generations. To put that in perspective, millennials (ages 24-41) ranked their stress

level 5.6 out of 10, and Gen X (ages 42-55) said their stress was5.2 out of 10. The overall reported stress

level for adults in 2020 is 5.0. For Gen-Z teens, ages 13 to 17, 51% said that the Pandemic made it

impossible to plan for the future, and 67% of Gen-Z adults in college said the same. The Gen-Z adults in

college also said that uncertainty about the school year was a significant source of stress. The APA says a
 College of Health Sciences

few strategies can help decrease anxiety and build emotional resilience in young people. For starters,

giving young people outlets to talk about issues that are troubling them is essential. Practicing the rule of

"three good things," in which you reflect on three good things that happened at the end of the day, may

help the APA suggest. It is also crucial to remember that we are amid a global pandemic, and we all

may need more flexibility, space, or support than usual, according to the APA. The APA's Stress in

America survey was conducted with the Harris Poll and consisted of more than 3,000 adults ages 18 and

older, plus a sample of 1,026 teens ages 13 to 17.

Sex

According to PSA (2015), in the community there are more female than male. Men and women

report different reactions to stress, both physically and mentally. They attempt to manage stress in very

different ways and perceive their ability to do so — and the things that stand in their way — in markedly

different ways. Findings suggest that while women are more likely to report physical symptoms

associated with stress, they do a better job connecting with others in their lives. At times, these

connections are essential to their stress management strategies.

Though they report similar average stress levels, women are more likely than men to report that

their stress levels rise. They are also much more likely than men to report physical and emotional

symptoms of stress. According to the American Psychological Association 2012, when comparing

women with each other, there also appears to be differences in how married and single women experience

stress. American Psychological Association result shows that women are more likely than men (28

percent vs. 20 percent) to report having a great deal of stress (8, 9, or 10 on a 10-point scale). Almost half

of all women (49 percent) surveyed said their stress has increased over the past five years, compared to

four in 10 (39 percent) men.

Women are more likely to report that money (79 percent compared with 73 percent of men) and

the economy (68 percent compared with 61 percent of men) are sources of stress, while men are far more
 College of Health Sciences

likely to cite that work is a source of stress (76 percent compared with 65 percent of women). Women are

more likely to report physical and emotional symptoms of stress than men, such as having had a headache

(41 percent vs. 30 percent), having felt as though they could cry (44 percent vs. 15 percent), or having had

an upset stomach or indigestion (32 percent vs. 21 percent) in the past month.

Men and women report wide gaps between determining what is meaningful and how successful

they are at achieving those behaviors. Women are much more likely than men to say that having a good

relationship with their families is essential to them (84 percent vs. 74 percent). While fewer women say

they are doing an excellent job at succeeding in this area, they outpace men (67 percent vs. 53 percent).

Women are also more likely than men to say that having a good relationship with their friends is essential

to them (69 percent vs. 62 percent), even though friendship is cited less often than family for both men

and women. Even though nearly half of all women (49 percent) say they have lain awake at night in the

past month because of stress, three-quarters of women rate getting enough sleep as extremely or very

important (75 percent compared with 58 percent of men).

Across the board, men's and women's perceptions of their ability to succeed in essential areas to

their well-being are far out of line with the importance they place on these behaviors. Even more so than

women, men report less likelihood of success in these areas. Only 33 percent of women report being

successful in their efforts to get enough sleep (compared with 75 percent who believe this is important);

only 35 percent report success in their efforts to manage stress (compared with 69 percent who believe

this is important); 36 percent report success in their efforts to eat healthily (compared with 64 percent

who believe this is important); and only 29 percent are successful in their efforts to be physically active

(compared with 54 percent who believe this is important). Only 25 percent of men report being

successful in their efforts to get enough sleep (compared with 58 percent who believe this is important);

only 30 percent report success in their efforts to manage stress (compared with 59 percent who believe

this is important); only 25 percent report success in their efforts to eat healthily (compared with 52
 College of Health Sciences

percent who believe this is important); and only 26 percent are successful in their efforts to be physically

active (compared with 54 percent who believe this is important).

Civil Status

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, in 2015, there were 34.8 million single persons

in the Philippines, or 44 percent of the total population 10 years old over. This is higher by 3.5 million

compared to the 2010 report of 31.3 million single persons. Thus, most of the population in the

community were single.

According to American Psychological Association (2012), survey results showed that married

women report higher levels of stress than single women, with one-third (33 percent) reporting that they

have experienced a great deal of stress in the past month (8, 9, or 10 on a 10-point scale) compared with

one in five (22 percent) of single women. Similarly, significantly more married women report that their

stress has increased over the past five years (56 percent vs. 41 percent of single women). Single women

are also more likely than married women to say they feel they are doing enough to manage their stress (63

percent vs. 51 percent).

Moreover, married women are more likely than single women to report they have experienced the

following due to stress in the past month: feeling as though they could cry (54 percent vs. 33 percent),

feeling irritable or angry (52 percent vs. 38 percent), having headaches (48 percent vs. 33 percent) and

experiencing fatigue (47 percent vs. 35 percent).

Educational Attainment

According to Philippine Statistics Authority (2013), the educational attainment of the population

in the country had improved since year 2000. The proportions of graduates of both secondary and tertiary
 College of Health Sciences

(college) levels had increased from 2000 to 2010. In 2010, high school graduates accounted for 19.1

percent compared to only 12.9 percent in 2000. College graduates increased from 4.3 percent in 2000 to

10.1 percent in 2010. Moreover, according to New York University (2009), college students now report

being more stressed-out than ever before and many of the emotional and physical symptoms that occur

commonly in the college population, such as headaches, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and the inability to

cope, can be attributed to or exacerbated by stress.

The relationship between education and health has existed for generations, despite dramatic

improvements in medical care and public health. Recent data show that the association between education

and health has grown dramatically in the last four decades. Now more than ever, people who have not

graduated high school are more likely to report being in fair or poor health compared to college graduates.

Between 1972 and 2004, the gap between these two groups grew from 23 percentage points to 36

percentage points among non-Hispanic whites age 40 to 64. African-Americans experienced a

comparable widening in the health gap by education during this time period. The probability of having

major chronic conditions also increased more among the least educated. According to NYU (2009),

college students now report being more stressed-out than ever before and many of the emotional and

physical symptoms that occur commonly in the college population, such as headaches, fatigue,

depression, anxiety, and the inability to cope, can be attributed to or exacerbated by stress.

Reduced stress: People with more education—and thus higher incomes—are often spared the

health-harming stresses that accompany prolonged social and economic hardship. Those with less

education often have fewer resources (e.g., social support, sense of control over life, and high self-esteem)

to buffer the effects of stress.

Life changes, traumas, chronic strain, and discrimination can cause health-harming stress.

Economic hardship and other stressors can have a cumulative, negative effect on health over time and

may, in turn, make individuals more sensitive to further stressors. Researchers have coined the term

―allostatic load‖ to refer to the effects of chronic exposure to physiological stress responses. Exposure to
 College of Health Sciences

high allostatic load over time may predispose individuals to diseases such as asthma, cardiovascular

disease, gastrointestinal disease, and infections11 and has been associated with higher death rates among

older adults.

Place of Residence

Philippine Statistics Authority (2013) reported that 92.3 million populations in the Philippines in

2010, 41.9 million lived in areas classified as urban while the rural population or those who loved in areas

classified as rural numbered 50.5 million.

Those living in remote rural communities may have adopted a range of coping strategies and

coping norms that may prevent disclosure and hamper effective policy delivery. Remote rural dwellers

may experience stress differently because of their stoical outlook and cultural norms. This can hide

unemployment and homelessness and make service delivery difficult on a number of levels (very limited

help seeking; suspicion of formal services; problem with stigma of mental illness; problem of

confidentiality). In tight-knit or small communities interventions need to be particularly sensitive to the

context in which they are operating. Social science researchers argue that emotional disorder is a

predictable outcome of social change, in contrast to the psychiatric perspective where disorder equals

abnormality. Support services need to tackle life-event stressors in context rather than as isolated events.

Occupation

Stress is both physical and mental. It is caused by major life events such as illness, the death of a

loved one, a change in responsibilities or expectations at work, and job promotions, loss, or changes.

Major workplace and personal stress are inevitable. (Heathfield, 2020). According to Zuckerman (2020),

90% of US workers say that they are under stress. What is even more disconcerting is 25% of employees

believe they are at risk of burn out within a year.

Most Filipinos continue to experience stress brought by the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

crisis; results of the special Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed.
 College of Health Sciences

The survey, conducted from July 3 to 6, found that 86 percent of Filipinos said the COVID-19

pandemic brought them stress, 51% ―great stress,‖ a slight decline from the 55 percent in May and 35

percent ―much stress,‖ which hardly changed from 34 percent.

The proportion of those who experienced ―great stress‖ was higher among families that had

experienced involuntary hunger in the past three months at 62 percent compared with families that did not

experience hunger at 48 percent. Those with ―great stress‖ were at 55 percent among those who did not

have a job but used to have one and those who never had a job, higher than the 46 percent among those

who had jobs. ―Great stress‖ was highest in Metro Manila and Visayas at 56 percent followed by Luzon

outside Metro Manila at 49 percent and Mindanao at 46 percent.

Those who experienced great stress were also highest among junior high school graduates at 58

percent. The survey had a margin of error of plus-minus 2 percent.

OVERVIEW OF STRESS

"Stress" has been dubbed the "Health Epidemic of the 21 st Century" by the World Health

Organization (2016). The effect of stress on our emotional and physical health can be devastating. In a

recent USA study, over 50% of individuals felt that stress negatively impacted work productivity.

Between 1983 and 2009, Stress levels increased by 10 to 30 percent among all USA demographic groups.

Stress comes in many different forms depending on where one may live. In parts of the

developing world, it can range from the threat of armed conflict to an unstable food supply.

Simultaneously, it can stem from negative thoughts about a difficult day in the office to difficulty paying

bills in more advanced economies. As part of its 2019 Global Emotions Report, Gallup set out to gauge

stress levels in 143 countries, finding that just over a third of people said they experienced "much stress"

the day before the polling was carried out.

Given its recent economic hardships, it hardly comes as a surprise that stress levels remain

incredibly high in Greece, and 59 percent of people surveyed there said they are under much stress. The
 College of Health Sciences

Philippines and Tanzania had the second-highest stress levels with 58 and 57 percent, respectively. The

U.S. is also among the ten most stressed out nations on the planet, with 55 percent of its population

saying they experienced much stress yesterday. That is the same share as three other countries - Albania,

Iran, and Sri Lanka.

Over the years, previous editions of the report found lower stress levels among Americans. For

example, in 2006, 46 percent said they were under much stress, which grew to 47 percent in 2010. Stress

levels grew steadily to 53 percent in 2014 before dropping below 50 percent in 2017. The research found

that younger Americans between the ages of 15 and 49 are the most stressed, along with the poorest 20

percent of the population.

Another study conducted was an online poll undertaken by YouGov, and had a sample size of

4,619 respondents. This is the most extensive known study of stress levels in the U.K. In the past year,

74% of people have felt so stressed they have been overwhelmed or unable to cope. For age differences,

30% of older people reported never feeling overwhelmed or unable to cope in the past year, compared to

7% of young adults. For behavioral effects, 46% reported that they ate too much or ate unhealthily due to

stress. 29% reported that they started drinking or increased their drinking, and 16% reported that they

started smoking or increased their smoking. For psychological effects, 51% of adults who felt stressed

reported feeling depressed, and 61% reported feeling anxious.

Of the people who said they had felt stress at some point in their lives, 16% had self-harmed, and

32% said they had had suicidal thoughts and feelings, 37% of adults who reported feeling stressed

reported feeling lonely as a result.

As to the causes of stress, 36% of all adults who reported stress in the previous year cited either

their own or a friend/relative's long-term health condition as a factor. This rose to 44% of adults over 55.

For those who reported feeling stressed in the past year, 22% cited debt as a stressor. For people who

reported high levels of stress, 12% said that feeling like they need to respond to messages instantly was a

stressor. 49% of 18-24-year old who have experienced high levels of stress felt that comparing themselves
 College of Health Sciences

to others was a source of stress, which was higher than in any of the older age groups. 36% of women

who felt high levels of stress related it to their comfort with their appearance and body image, compared

to 23% of men. Housing worries are a key source of stress for younger people (32% of 18-24-year old

cited it as a stressor in the past year). This is less so for older people (22% for 45-54-year old and just 7%

for over 55s). Younger people have higher stress related to the pressure to succeed. 60% of 18-24-year

old and 41% of 25-34-year-old cited this, compared to 17% of 45-54s and 6% of over 55s).

PHILIPPINE STRESS SITUATION

According to a global well-being index, Filipinos were among the most stressed and most

emotional populations globally. Gallup's annual Global Emotions report found that the Philippines placed

second in the list of most stressed countries, with 58% saying they had experienced much stress a day

before the poll was conducted in 2018. According to the same report, the Philippines and three other

countries also topped the most emotional nations last year.

Along with Niger, Ecuador and Liberia, the Philippines had 60% average "yes" responses to all

questions. They were followed by Costa Rica, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Peru (59%), and Nicaragua,

Honduras, Sri Lanka, Guatemala (58%). Last year, the Philippines was the most emotional country in

Asia and the fourth globally, with 58% average "yes" responses to all questions.

In another survey, the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed that in the

Philippines, one of 4 or 27 percent of Filipinos said that they frequently experience stress in their daily

lives. The latest survey also showed that 37 percent of Filipinos said they sometimes suffer stress, while

34 percent said they rarely experience it. Two percent said that they never felt stress.

Many people worldwide experience stress irrespective of their age, race, religion, color,

profession, academic background, or the surrounding environment (Esia-Donkoh, Yelkpieri & Esia-

Donkoh, 2011). A study by Anspaugh, Hamrick, and Rosato (2003) opined that stress comes in different

forms and affects different people at different ages and walks of life. Environmental and personal events
 College of Health Sciences

that because stress is known as stressors. Different people perceive and react to stressors differently from

other people. Stress has become part and parcel of life, and it is unavoidable. It is known that life itself is

stress-related, dependent on the individual's lifestyle and the type of cultural development. In the opinion

of Waghachavare et.al (2013), stress can be defined as "any challenge to homeostasis or the body's

internal sense of balance." Yusoff (2010) stated that stress is the "emotional disturbance or changes

caused by the stressors," The level of stress could range from mild stress to severe stress depending on the

individual.

STRESS DURING COVID19 PANDEMIC

The COVID-19 Pandemic brought the world to a halt. Since early 2020, social life has changed

for many people around the world. Government restrictions and new social norms led to a reduction in

mobility (Google, 2020), avoidance of public transport, cancelation of the majority of large events such as

concerts, festivals, religious and sports events, and temporarily closing down meeting spots such as cafes,

restaurants, museums or theatres.

The Pandemic has harmed the public mental health, which can even lead to psychological crises.

Early identification of individuals in the early stages of a psychological disorder makes the intervention

strategies more effective. Health crises such as the COVID-19 Pandemic lead to psychological changes in

the medical workers and the citizens, and such psychological changes are instigated by fear, anxiety,

depression, or insecurity.

Nervousness and anxiety in a society affect everyone to a large extent. Recent evidence suggests

that people who are kept in isolation and quarantine experience significant levels of anxiety, anger,

confusion, and stress. At large, all of the studies that have examined the psychological disorders during

the COVID-19 Pandemic have reported that the affected individuals show several neurological

symptoms. These symptoms include mental trauma, such as emotional distress, depression, stress, mood

swings, irritability, insomnia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, post-traumatic stress, and anger.
 College of Health Sciences

Research has also shown that frequent media exposure may cause distress. Nevertheless, it is challenging

to predict the psychological and emotional consequences of COVID-19 accurately in the current situation.

Studies conducted in China, the first country affected by this recent Virus spread, show that people's fear

of the virus' unknown nature can lead to mental disorders.

The emergence of COVID-19, with its rapid spread, has exacerbated anxiety in populations

globally, leading to mental health disorders in individuals. This has even caused cases of stereotyping and

discrimination. Therefore, it is necessary to examine and recognize people's mental states in this

challenging, destructive, and unprecedented time. Evidence suggests that individuals may experience

psychosis, anxiety, trauma, suicidal thoughts, and panic attacks. Recent studies have similarly shown that

COVID-19 affects mental health outcomes such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress

symptoms. COVID-19 is novel and unexplored, and its rapid transmission, high mortality rate, and

concerns about the future can be the causes of anxiety. When above average, anxiety weakens the body's

immune system and consequently increases the risk of contracting the virus.

TYPES OF STRESS

In general, there are two categories of stress; eustress and distress. Eustress is positive stress that

motivates an individual to continue to work. This good stress encourages learning where an ideal level of

stress can boost learning ability (Yusoff, 2010). On the other hand, distress is negative stress, which

occurs when the good stress becomes too much to handle. This negative stress prevents and suppresses

learning and must be stopped and avoided. Esia-Donkoh and colleagues (2011) found that workload at

the workplace and the demands of an individual's job some-times exert too much pressure than a person

can bear, which directly leads them to stress. Notably, exposure to stress causes an individual to undergo

emotional problems, physical and mental health problems, fatigue, and even mental breakdown (Yusoff,

2010).
 College of Health Sciences

Stress is simply the body's response to changes that create taxing demands. There is a difference

between eustress, which is a term for positive stress and distress, which refers to negative stress. The

coping mechanism plays a significant part in overcoming or reduce the stress experienced by individuals.

People use different types of coping strategies to overcome their stress.

EFFECTS OF STRESS

According to Ankari (2011), depending on the level of stress, it can be helpful or harmful. Stress

has many effects on a person; it can affect the nervous system, musculoskeletal system, respiratory

system, cardiovascular system, endocrine system, and gastrointestinal system. Furthermore, stress is

linked to depression, anxiety, heart attacks, stroke, hypertension, immune system disturbances that

increase susceptibility to infections (American Institute of Stress, 2017). This effect of stress could affect

any individual.

According to the World Health Organization, stress affects different people in different ways.

Work stress experience can cause unusual and dysfunctional behavior at work and contribute to poor

physical and mental health. In extreme cases, long-term stress or traumatic events at work may lead to

psychological problems and be conducive to psychiatric disorders resulting in absence from work and

preventing the worker from working again. When under stress, people find it challenging to maintain a

healthy balance between work and non-working life. At the same time, they may engage in unhealthy

activities, such as smoking, drinking, and abusing drugs. Stress may also affect the immune system,

impairing people's ability to fight infections.

Anspaugh et al. (2003) contended that most stressful situations fall into harm-and-loss situations,

threat situations, or challenge situations. Instances of harm-and-loss situations are the death of a loved

one, loss of personal property, physical assault and injury, and severe self-esteem loss. Threat situations

may be real or perceived and can range from being caught in traffic to being unable to perceive an event.
 College of Health Sciences

Threatening events dwell on the ability of the individual to deal with day-to-day activities. Threat

stressors result in anger, hostility, frustration, or depression. Challenging situations promote either growth

or pain. These stressors mostly involve significant life changes, including taking a new job, attending a

new school, graduating from college, leaving home, and getting married. Challenging situations are

usually seen as useful but involve stress because they disrupt homeostasis and require considerable

psychological and physical adjustment.

Stoppler (n. d.) is of the view that manifestation of excess or poorly managed stress can be

extremely varied and that, while it has been reported by many people that stress brings about headaches,

sleep disturbances, feelings of anxiety or tension, anger or concentration problems, others complain of

depression, lack of interest in food, and increased appetite, among others. In severe cases, Stoppler (n. d.)

pointed out that individuals experienced a loss of interest in usual activities.

According to Riches, as cited in Arikewuyo (2000), stress symptoms could be internal or

external. Internal symptoms may include experiencing headaches, being moody, and feeling sick, while

external symptoms may involve throwing things, shaking with rage, and weeping. The physiological

signals of stress outlined by Adegoroye (1995), as cited in Arikewuyo (2000), included high blood

pressure, shaky nerves, and intolerance to heat, backaches, anxiety sexual performance failure.

Challenging situations can lead to positive outcomes such as motivation and improved task

performance (Rheinberg & Engeser, 2018) while threatening ones or distress can result in anxiety,

depression, social dysfunction, and even suicidal intention (Tang, Byrne, & Qin, 2018). Along with the

enhancements during the scientific era and the speedy development of information, competitiveness has

become increasingly robust. Consequently, people have become busy and demanding, and thus, stress is a

natural consequence. It does not merely affect our thoughts and feelings but our actions as well.

However, overstress causes problems and discomfort and can have severe effects on people. Precisely,

students face stress when they enter an entirely new world of education professionals.
 College of Health Sciences

Stress is continuously observed as a psychological process that encompasses an individual's

perception and response to any intimidating event. It is significant to note that stress can have both

positive and negative effects on people. It means that stress may be a healthy, adaptive reaction to an

event perceived as a threat. Its role is to awaken and prepare individuals to take defensive action.

For instance, fear of things that present realistic threats motivates individuals to deal with them or

avoid them. This essentially indicates that even though the average level of stress is supportive, a higher

level of stress can exacerbate mental health problems if it is not managed effectively (Cairo, Bettis, &

Compas, 2017). Additionally, when a person is exposed to chronic stress, they are likely to experience

both physical illnesses (including heart disease) and mental illness (e.g., anxiety disorders). The adverse

effects of stress can cause headaches, sleep problems, anxiety, restlessness, sadness, drinking problem,

falling into depression, and many other health problems (Pariat, Rynjah, Joplin & Kharjana, 2014).

Stress, according to Anspaugh et al. (2003), affected the lives of everyone. This means that

students, teachers, business people, parents, athletes, and children, among others, live with stress. In their

view, it is a misconception to see stress as an enemy since stress is often neither positive nor negative.

They continue that how people deal with or react to stress determines its effect on their lives. The way we

react to stress, therefore, seems to be more important than the stress itself. In the opinion of Anspaugh et

al. (2003), stressors are any physical, psychological, or environmental event or condition that initiates the

stress responses. Stress, which results in positive responses, is known as "eustress," while those which

end up with negative responses are termed distress.

COPING MECHANISMS

Coping mechanisms are the strategies people often use in the face of stress and trauma to

help manage painful or difficult emotions. Coping mechanisms can help people adjust to stressful

events while helping them maintain their emotional well-being.

 College of Health Sciences

Based on Rogers and Yassin (2003), students need to develop different coping strategies to

encounter and manage stressful conditions. If not handled well, the stressors that originated from financial

problems, sleep deprivation, societal activities, and many more can affect a student's ability to perform.

Coping strategy refers to ways to handle stressful and troublesome circumstances. Richard Lazarus and

Susan Folkman scientifically defined coping as the sum of cognitive and behavioral effort, which are

continually changing, aiming to handle particular demands, whether internal or external, that are viewed

as demanding.

The coping mechanism plays a significant part in overcoming or reduce the stress experienced by

individuals. Adler and Park (2003) stated that appropriate and effective coping might buffer the effect of

stressful circumstances on individuals' physical and mental health.

People use different types of coping to overcome their stress. For example, Shaikh and

colleagues (2004) reviewed that some people cope with drugs, alcohol, over-eating, and smoking, which

are counterproductive, while some cope by exercising, meditating, and listening to music. It is proven to

help reduce stress.

The use of practical coping skills can often help improve mental and emotional well-being.

People who can adjust to stressful or traumatic situations (and the lasting impact these incidents

may have) through effective coping mechanisms may be less likely to experience

anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns due to painful or challenging events.

People who find themselves defaulting to maladaptive coping mechanisms or experience

difficulty utilizing effective coping strategies may eventually see a negative impact on mental and

emotional well-being. Those who have difficulty knowing how to cope with anxiety, stress, or anger

may fall into the habit of relying on a maladaptive coping mechanism. Consuming alcohol can often

help people feel less stressed in the immediate moment, for example. However, if a person comes to

rely on alcohol, or any other substance, in the face of challenging situations, they may eventually
 College of Health Sciences

become dependent on the substance over time. Due to the detrimental impact of stress on health,

individuals engage in different coping styles to deal with stressors. Coping is, therefore, defined as an

array of conscious behaviors and mental efforts employed to deal with a stressful event or the situation to

minimize its negative consequence (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). Coping involves specific cognitive

evaluation of whether an individual believes that he or she can handle the stressful situation. Coping can

take different forms, such emotion-focused coping in which individuals focus on reducing the adverse

emotional reaction, and problem-focused coping in which the focus is on finding out a practical way of

solving stressful situation (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984), also described as active and passive (Jex, Bliese,

Buzzell, & Primeau, 2001) or approach and avoidance (Anshel, 1996) stress coping styles.

According to Anspaugh et al. (2003), all events in life brought about a reaction, but there were

varied ways people reacted or responded to them. To them, coping with stress is an attempt to manage or

deal with stress. In their view, coping does not necessarily result in success. They comment that

successful coping includes becoming aware of incidents and situations that one perceives as stressful, and

recognizing stressors means being aware of how one's body responds to stress. To Anspaugh et al. (2003),

dealing successfully with stress might require using different types of techniques.

POSITIVE COPING MECHANISMS

Among the more commonly used adaptive coping mechanisms are: Support; Talking about

a stressful event with a supportive person can effectively manage stress. Seeking external support

instead of self-isolating and internalizing stress can significantly reduce a difficult situation's

adverse effects. Relaxation; Any number of relaxing activities can help people cope with

stress. Relaxing activities may include practicing meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, or other

calming techniques, sitting in nature, or listening to soft music.

Problem-solving; This coping mechanism involves identifying a problem that is causing

stress and then developing and putting into action potential solutions for effectively managing it.

Humor; Making light of a stressful situation may help people maintain perspective and prevent the
 College of Health Sciences

situation from becoming overwhelming. Physical activity; Exercise can serve as a natural and

healthy form of stress relief. Running, yoga, swimming, walking, dance, team sports, and many

other physical activity types can help people cope with stress and the aftereffects of traumatic

events.

Support
According to the Philippine Red Cross, connecting with loved ones through video calls, phone

calls, texts, or social media is a wat to cope with stress positively. Social support refers to support

received (e.g., informative, emotional, or instrumental) or the sources of the support (e.g., family or

friends) that enhance recipients’ self-esteem or provide stress-related interpersonal aid (Dumont &

Provost, 1999). Social support has been known to offset or moderate the impact of stress caused by illness

(e.g., Aro, Hanninen, & Paronene, 1989). The perception of adequate social support has been associated

with lower levels of depression (Finch, Okun, Pool, & Ruehlman, 1999), better social adjustment

(Dunkel-Schetter, 1984), and higher self-esteem (Feather & Wainstock, 1989). Research has documented

many physiological and mental health benefits of social support, including improved immune,

cardiovascular, and neuroendocrine function; positive adjustment to chronic disease; decreased

depression and anxiety; and effective buffering against the negative effects of stress. One study from the

University of Utah examined the effects of three of these different types of social support among married

couples and found that emotional, tangible, and informational support all helped lower blood pressure

when individuals were faced with short-term stressors.

Contacting professionals like psychologists or counselors. One commonly used adaptive coping

mechanisms is Support; Talking about a stressful event with a supportive person can effectively manage

stress. Seeking external support instead of self-isolating and internalizing stress can significantly reduce a

difficult situation's adverse effects. According to the study conducted by Martinez, A.B., Co, M., Lau,

J. et al., Filipinos across the world have general reluctance and unfavorable attitude towards formal help-

seeking despite high rates of psychological distress. They prefer seeking help from close family and
 College of Health Sciences

friends. Barriers cited by Filipinos living in the Philippines include financial constraints and

inaccessibility of services, whereas overseas Filipinos were hampered by immigration status, lack of

health insurance, language difficulty, and experience of discrimination and lack of acculturation to host

culture. Both groups were hindered by self and social stigma attached to mental disorder, and by concern

for loss of face, sense of shame, and adherence to Asian values of conformity to norms where mental

illness is considered unacceptable. Filipinos are also prevented from seeking help by their sense of

resilience and self-reliance, but this is explored only in studies. They utilize special mental health care

only as the last resort or when problems become severe. qualitative

Relaxation
Practice good sleep hygiene. This includes having a consistent sleep and waking up, avoiding

caffeinated and alcoholic drinks close to bedtime, practicing getting into a relaxed state when you go to

bed, and shutting off electronic devices. According to Philippine Red Cross, Stress can make your body

hurt and make you feel sluggish and tired. Sleep disruptions are one of the hallmark symptoms of being

overly stressed. Some of the most common physical signs of stress include stiff neck and back pain,

headaches, and decreased libido. Practicing good sleep hygiene includes having a consistent sleep and

waking up, avoiding caffeinated and alcoholic drinks close to bedtime, practicing getting into a relaxed

state when you go to bed, and shutting off electronic devices are essential coping strategies to address the

physical symptoms of stress. As stated by Dong-Woo Choi (2018) stress awareness is associated with

short sleep duration; specialized workers, office workers, workers with household income above mid-high

levels, and those who graduated from university or college especially need to sleep adequately in order to

manage stress. The result implies that getting enough good quality sleep is known to the respondents as a

positive coping mechanism and they are always able to perform this activity to reduce stress. According

to Mental Health Foundation (2016) sleep is essential. It is as important to our bodies as eating, drinking

and breathing, and is vital for maintaining good mental and physical health. Sleeping helps us to recover

from mental as well as physical exertion

 College of Health Sciences

Give oneself regular breaks. Take a walk, stop working, and eat a good dinner or talk with a

friend. Give the mind a moment to rest and reorganize. Contrary to many people's first instincts when

they are stressed, taking breaks makes someone more efficient, more energetic, and better able to tackle

the challenges in front of you.

Maintain a healthy diet. When the mind is full of worries and pressures, many people find that

they slip into "mindless eating" or cravings carbs and sweets. Maintaining a balanced diet of foods that

provide a more constant energy source can be a great first line of defense against the adverse effects of

stress. Even more importantly, it will help you maintain a connection to long-term goals.

Limit your consumption of alcohol and other mood-altering substances (including sleeping

aids). While a couple of glasses of wine at night can take the tension out of your shoulders for the

moment, it can cause sleep disruptions and an increase in a depressed mood, which, in turn, keeps your

stress levels high and increases your tension for the next day.

Singing and listening to music. This as well coincides with the review of Shaikh and colleagues

(2004) mentioning about listening to music, as one of the proven means to reduce stress. Additionally,

Anspaugh et.al. (2003), emphasized relaxation as one of the means to reduce stress, to which he further

emphasized on listening to soft music, as one of the examples. Lastly, this practice also conforms the

claim of Philippine Red Cross, to which they discussed about self-soothing techniques wherein they

elaborated on listening to music as a part of this technique. Other positive coping mechanisms under

RELAXATION are practicing deep breathing, meditation, or muscle relaxation,

Problem-solving
Making and following through with an action plan to solve problems, seeking counselling if

continuously to struggle with stress. Instead of narrowing our focus like negative emotions do, positive

emotions affect our brains in ways that increase our awareness, attention, and memory. They help us take

in more information, hold several ideas in mind at once, and understand how different ideas relate to each
 College of Health Sciences

other. When positive emotions open us up to new possibilities, we are able to learn and build on our

skills. That leads to doing better on tasks and tests. Poloma and Pendleton (1989).

Humor
Laughing or crying, going out with a friend (shopping, swimming). Swimming is regularly

suggested as a method for expanding active work and acquiring medical advantages. According to Sports

Medicine-Open (2015) among the possible kinds of physical activities, various authoritative groups and

researchers often recommend swimming as a means of increasing physical activity and gaining health

benefits. Swimming has proven to have multiple positive effects in the areas of the prevention and

treatment of cardiovascular disease, on cardiorespiratory fitness, and on anthropometric measures such as

body weight, fat distribution, waist circumference, body mass index, and blood pressure. Considered as

an aerobic activity, swimming has been reported to have emotional state benefits among healthy people

and clinical populations on anxiety depression, moods, or self-esteem. This implies that swimming is a

good stress coping mechanism to eliminate stress. Amy Morin, LCSW, a psychotherapist and author

of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do, says that shopping can make a great coping mechanism

for a number of reasons, not least of all because you’re treating yourself. We imagine ourselves either

wearing the new outfit or using a new product, and when we think about that, we envision ourselves being

happier. It gives us a temporary boost just imagining it. That temporary boost might also have something

to do with the fact that shopping gives us a sense of control, of regulating what we take into our lives.

Shopping can be something you do that’s social — whether you do it with friends or you do it as a way of

getting yourself out of the house and around other people.

Watching movies/entertaining comedies. Philippine Red Cross stated regarding the regularly

practice self-soothing techniques, whereas they elaborated watching a movie, as one of the ways to self-

soothe that will help one cope with stress and prevent becoming more stressed.

Movie therapy (MT) increased general self-esteem in teenagers suffering from serious emotional

disturbances (Powell, Newgent & Lee, 2006). In Poor Reza's study (2006), depression was significantly
 College of Health Sciences

lowered in chronic schizophrenic patients. Sharp, Sharp (2002) attest that movie therapy is more than just

watching a movie. They state that movie therapy involves therapeutic discussion of the selected movie

signifying the client/character similarities via strategic questioning and metaphorical language. This helps

to lower client resistance in the process group. Hesley and Hesley (2001) assign watching the therapeutic

movie as homework to save time and for cost effectiveness. This procedure will reinforce the key points

leading to mastery of the desired behaviors in the natural settings and ultimately connect the knowledge

gained in therapy to real life experience (p.11). Mongin (1999) asserts that the movies more likely

influence the patients emotionally rather than having an impact on the intellectual level; movies help

reduce defense mechanisms like repression. Movies can be used as a medium for self-exploration.

Through movie therapy, client may identify with his chosen heroes in the film and ensuing analysis of

character behaviors, needs, and drives. Movies not only can diagnostically raise the level of a client’s

insight, but also may help to resolve the client's difficulties. The goal is to help the client face his issues in

an objective manner by viewing a story similar to that of his own and then by applying that learning to his

own situation (Rizza, 1997). Moreover, movie therapy encourages client to talk about his issues with a

sense of hope. The characters in movie model a set of behaviors that can help client solve his problems.

Equipped with various lenses, movies can be effective in modifying observer's cognition, attitude, and

behavior. By stimulating emotions and changing levels of Neoendorphins and stress hormones, movies

also bind biological effects.

According to Gary Solomon Ph.D., MPH, MSW (2000), the author of two books on cinema

therapy, watching movies encourages emotional release. Even those who often have trouble expressing

their emotions might find themselves laughing or crying during a film. This release of emotions can have

a cathartic effect and also make it easier for a person to become more comfortable in expressing their

emotions. This can be invaluable during counseling as well as in ―real life.‖ Sad films can make us

happier. While it might seem counter-intuitive, I think many of us can relate to this. I know that after I
 College of Health Sciences

watch a particularly sad or distressing film, I feel thankful for my own life and my ―smaller‖ problems in

comparison. Others’ tragedies make us more appreciative of everything good in our own lives.

Watching movies can help us make sense of our own lives. For thousands of years, knowledge

and wisdom have been passed down through the art of story-telling. Stories offer us different perspectives

and help us understand and make sense of the world. And movies are stories. Movies give us a break from

whatever is currently bothering us. We are transported to a different time and place and can just focus on

the present moment for a short time. This gives our brains a much-needed rest from ―the usual.‖ Movies

bring us a sense of relief, even if they stress us out first. Watching something suspenseful releases cortisol

(the stress hormone) in the brain, followed by dopamine, which produces feelings of pleasure.

Physical activity

Attending dancing classes. Dancing can improve your health in a lot of ways but there are both

positive and negative effects of being a dancer. Dance can help improve your health, body, and mind.

Some of these ways include fighting against diseases, improving posture and weight, and reducing stress.

But there are also some negative effects of dance including a higher risk of injuries and the lasting effects

those injuries can have on a person’s life. According to Hanna, J. L. (2017) stated in her book- The

Oxford Handbook of Dance and Wellbeing. Dancing is an art, exercise, and language that uses the mind-

body connection. Language is a way of explaining difficult ideas and topics with or without

sound. Dance uses both verbal and nonverbal meanings, vocabulary, and rules to express a bigger picture

that connects emotions and physical feelings that sometimes verbal words are not able to fully

convey. This allows people a more flexible and sometimes safer option to cope with problems. Dancing

combats stress and can be used as a coping skill because it releases dopamine and oxytocin, while

also rebuilding the brain. Dancing absorbs detrimental stress hormones and releases dopamine, the
 College of Health Sciences

pleasure hormone, instead. When this hormone is released, people experience motivation

and rewards which results in learning, improved mood, and increased memory.

Partner dancing is an especially power way to release oxytocin (the bonding hormone), which

makes us feel good. Dancing helps develop the brain and increases growth of cells that prolonged stress

would naturally break down. This results in improved mental health, reduced muscle tension (due to that

mind-body connection), and simply improves mood.

Dancing, and especially partner dancing, can therapeutic as a response to a stressful event as a

way to release tension, ―explain‖ peoples’ emotions through movement, or simply as a distraction. Dance

can even provide coping benefits before a stressful event occurs as it keeps the body and mind fully

charged and prepared for anything.

On the other hand, according to BP Dance Studio, Dance Classes’ cost varies from which

package will be availed. Per month, their Walk-in costs PHP 350, second is the 5-Class Package which

costs PHP1500, third is the 10-Class Package which costs PHP2800, and lastly the 20-Class Package

which costs PHP5200. Moreover, Dancers are high-performance athletes who are highly vulnerable to

sustaining an injury (Ramkumar et al., 2016), which can have severe consequences, such as required

medical treatment, experienced discomfort, decreased health-related quality of life, restricted artistic

development due to absence from dance activities, and a significant delay in studying (Kenny et al.,

2016; Yau et al., 2017; White et al., 2018). Previous literature showed prevalence and incidence rates of

injuries among pre-professional ballet, modern and contemporary dancers ranging from 37 to 86% and

from 0.77 to 4.71 injuries per 1,000 h of dance (Kenny et al., 2016; Lee et al., 2017; van Winden et al.,

2019).

Making self busy with everyday activities. In support, Williams et al. (2020), stated in his paper

that keeping busy with works, studies, or other social activities was imperative for preventing low mood,

and therefore claimed it to be a positive coping mechanism. As humans, we may often have a desire to be
 College of Health Sciences

productive and use our time well. It’s when the busyness takes over our lives and we stop enjoying living

that it’s important to look more closely. If you feel busyness has become a coping mechanism for you,

therapy may help. (Kristen Gardenhire, 2019).

Exercising or getting outdoors to enjoy nature. According to Anspaugh et.al. (2003), one of the

techniques in dealing with stress is Physical activity; Exercise can serve as a natural and healthy form of

stress relief. Running, yoga, swimming, walking, dance, team sports, and many other physical activity

types can help people cope with stress and the aftereffects of traumatic events. The Philippine Red Cross

also stated that this technique, Exercise regularly is one of the most essential coping techniques in

reducing tension and increasing energy. According to Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

(2021) Scientists have found that regular participation in aerobic exercise has been shown to decrease

overall levels of tension, elevate and stabilize mood, improve sleep, and improve self-esteem. Even five

minutes of aerobic exercise can stimulate anti-anxiety effects. Stanton (2014) exercise has demonstrated

benefits for people with mental illness including symptom reduction, improved cardiovascular risk profile

and improved physical capacity. Ironically, exercise is one of the first things to fall by the wayside, yet it

is one of the most essential coping techniques in reducing tension and increasing energy. Remember that

a brisk 20-minute walk will likely help. Other positive coping mechanism under PHYSICASL ACTIVITY

are writing, painting, or doing other creative activities, and gardening or making home repairs.

Praying or going to church. Religious coping can be helpful for immediate relief from stressful

situations. Specifically, it can give the individual confidence to endure and it can give meaning to

hardships (Folkman & Moskowitz, 2004). Research shows the benefits of positive religious coping

mechanisms. Practicing positive religious coping strategies was correlated with better mental health

outcomes in a meta-analysis of 49 studies by Ano and Vasconcelles (2004). They found that positive

religious coping mechanisms, such as seeking spiritual support and collaborative religious coping, were

related to better adjustment to stress and growth from stress. Prayer is a form of religious coping that
 College of Health Sciences

involves communication with God. LaBarbera and Hetzel (2015) found an association between prayer

frequency and stress.

According to the Philippine Red Cross, here are the following steps to cope up with stress

positively; connecting with loved ones through video calls, phone calls, texts, or social media is a wat to

cope with stress positively, stay informed with accurate, reliable information from trusted sources, avoid

social media accounts and news outlets that promote fear or rumors, take care of oneself and monitor the

physical health needs of your loved ones. Eat healthily, drink plenty of water, and get enough rest.

Generally, an excellent social network buffers stress (Macgeorge, Samter, & Gillihan,

2005) and comprises any interpersonal connection, which can include face-to-face interactions

and online socialization. Good friends can increase resilience and decrease stress encountered at

university (Singh, 2016). Friend support plays a protective role with resilience amid an

environment of academic stress.

However, both part-time and full-time students may reduce their social and non-academic

activities to cope with their studies, according to Gaedke, Covarrubias Venegas, and Simbrunner and

Janous (2012), is counterproductive since socialization acts as a stress buffer. Besides, the research

explored religious coping strategies such as prayer commonly practiced by many people. For

example, Qidwai, Tabassum, Hanif, and Khan (2009) discovered that prayer is a common strategy

that individuals use to cope with stress and maintain good holistic health.

In the same way, personal religious involvement, mainly the frequency of attendance at

religious services, was found to positively associated good health and inversely associated distress

(Ellison, Boardman, Williams, & Jackson, 2001) and act as buffers against stress and beneficial for

upholding life satisfaction (Fabricatore, Handal, & Fenzel, 2012).

 College of Health Sciences

People's reactions appear in different ways, not only in the way someone feels but also in how

they think and what they think about — their sleeping habits, how they go about daily living, and how

they interact and get along with others.

We all find ways of coping with stress. Some coping strategies are not as helpful as others. For

example, negative coping responses often make stress worse, because they wear people down over time

or are temporary distractions. On the other hand, positive coping responses keep people in the present

moment and give people chances to actively work toward solving problems.

Understanding and recognizing when you are stressed and expressing your stress is essential in

helping you find which skills you need to help cope with your stress. Remember, stress is an essential and

inevitable part of life, and it will show up for you at some point. Practicing these skills can help you cope

with your stress to continue with your life and stay true to your larger goals and values.

Coping often is investigated in terms of its ability to decrease adverse outcomes. Indeed, having a

higher number of positive coping strategies available in the face of stress may provide the individual with

more resources to deal with stress. This may allow an individual to manage stress more effectively and be

more confident in dealing with problems. There is less research investigating coping and positive

adjustment than coping and negative adjustment, and the research done generally is concurrent rather than

longitudinal.

One indicator of positive adjustment that is associated with coping is emotion regulation.

Individuals who can better regulate their emotions and engage in more positive affect may be more likely

to seek out and use several positive coping strategies. According to the broaden-and-build theory, the

experience of positive emotions (e.g., joy) broadens attention and thinking (i.e., heightens openness to

new possibilities, big picture focus, etc.), in comparison to negative emotions, which tend to result in a

narrowing of focus (i.e., fight or flight, etc. This broadening of attention is hypothesized to build personal

resources, such as adaptive coping strategies. In light of this, individuals who are better able to regulate
 College of Health Sciences

emotions more positively may have a heightened ability to think more broadly, allowing for engagement

in various positive coping strategies, compared to those who have more narrow thinking. Alternatively, it

may be that individuals who engage in a more significant number of positive coping strategies may have a

greater sense of control and demonstrate a more remarkable ability to adjust their coping responses and

adapt to stress. As a result, these individuals may become more proficient in their ability to regulate their

emotions. Fredrickson posits that both interpretations warrant investigation (i.e., directionality) by

emphasizing that positive emotional experience should help facilitate a broader source of coping, which

could help improve later experiences of positive emotions.

Another way coping has been implicated in the promotion of positive adjustment is in its

association to self–esteem. For instance, individuals with high self-esteem are thought to have more

effective and appropriate coping resources to deal with stress (e.g., planning and problem-solving. The

count of coping strategies used could be that individuals with high self-esteem may be more confident in

their ability to cope with different stressors (and thus be more likely to engage in a variety of positive

coping strategies). However, it also may be that individuals who can use a more significant number of

positive coping strategies may develop a sense of control and feelings of confidence in their ability to

handle different situations appropriately, thus leading to increased self-esteem.

Also, academic achievement may be another important factor associated with coping. Academic

achievement typically requires an ability to work well under pressure (e.g., writing exams, oral

presentations) and an ability to collaborate on group projects. The ability to cope efficiently and employ

more frequent positive orientated strategies when under stress/pressure has been associated with better

academic achievement than those who rely on less effective coping strategies.

In conclusion, stress is an inevitable phenomenon in life. Stress plays a pivotal role in regulating

the body's physiology. Stress also improves the survival skills of an individual. However, when stress

becomes unmanageable, it starts affecting the individual adversely. The adverse effects of stress alter the

normal physiology and the mental well-being of the individual. People attempt to cope with their stressors
 College of Health Sciences

using various coping strategies. Adapting coping strategies may help in the successful handling of stress.

Maladaptive coping strategies, on the other hand, though control stress, are often transient and may result

in the impairment of mental health. Evidence suggests that stress significantly affects the immune system

of the body. The effect of stress on the immune system may depend on the nature and severity of the

stressor. Ineffective regulation of stress results in immune dysregulation. Effective coping strategies for

handling stress might be useful to correct the immune dysregulation.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

This study will be based on the transactional model of stress coping of Lazarus and Folkman

(1987), which states that "coping as a phenomenon that involves both cognitive and behavioral responses

that individuals use in an attempt to manage internal and external stressors perceived to exceed their

resources" (Echemendia, 2019). In this theory, two concepts are central to any psychological stress

theory: appraisal, i.e., individuals' evaluation of the significance of what is happening for their well-being

and coping, i.e., individuals' efforts in thought action to manage specific demands (Krohne, 2002).

According to Krohne (2002), coping potential Lazarus means a person's evaluation of the

prospects for generating certain behavioral or cognitive operations that will positively influence a

personally relevant encounter". The focus of the transactional theory is that of a person's psychological

aspect in conformity to this is the adaptation theory of Sister Callista Roy wherein "Roy's model is

concerned with the problem of human adaptation. She suggested that the human organism consists of

parts that depend on their existence and survival on the whole body's integrated functioning.

The parts which make up the whole, therefore, are linked together in a dynamic equilibrium such

that any change to one part (or force applied to it) would lead to the reaction which would ultimately

affect the whole organism." (Akinsaya, 1994) As stated by Akinsaya (1994), "Hence the central concept

of the model is that of man as a 'bio-psycho-social' being." the Transactional model has been the chosen

theory for this study because it is focused more on the effect of the psychological aspect to the individuals
 College of Health Sciences

coping potential rather than the adaptation theory or stress theory according to Selye (1950), "the ability

to live organisms to adapt themselves to changes in their surroundings, their adaptability or " adaptation

energy," is a finite quantity; its magnitude appears to depend mainly upon genetic factors." which focuses

more on the biological aspect as a factor for adaptation or copying of an organism or individual.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

The researchers will be guided by the model illustrated below:

Profile of the respondents in Level of knowledge of the

terms of: respondents on positive
coping mechanism
Age
Sex
Civil status
Occupation
Place of residence
 College of Health Sciences

Figure 1: Research Paradigm

The study aims to determine the respondents' level of knowledge of the theory's positive stress

coping mechanism. This study's general concept will be established in the research paradigm, as

presented in Figure 1. The left box on the research paradigm comprises the demographic profile of the

respondents as to age, sex, civil status, occupation, and place of residence, which are the independent

variables, and on the right box is the level of knowledge of the respondents on positive stress coping

mechanism which is the dependent variable. The arrow line shows the influence of the demographic

profile of the respondents on their level of knowledge.

CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

This chapter discusses the general outline of the procedure used in the study. It includes the

research design, research locale, population and sampling, research instrument, data gathering procedure,

and statistical treatment of the data to be used in this study.

Research Design

The research group utilized that use of descriptive research design which attempts to determine

the profile of the respondents, their level of knowledge on positive coping mechanisms, and the common

practices of the respondents on stress coping.

Locale of the Study

 College of Health Sciences

This study will be conducted in Ilocos Norte, it is a province in the Philippines situated in

the Ilocos Region occupying the Luzon’s northwestern section. The city of Laoag is considered as the

capital of the said province. It covers a total area of 3,467.89 square kilometers (1,338.96 sq

mi), occupying the northern tip of the Ilocos Region in Luzon. The province is bordered by Cagayan to

the extreme northeast, Apayao to the east, and Abra to the southeast, Ilocos Sur to the southwest, the

South China Sea to the west, and the Luzon Straight to the north.

Ilocos Norte has 21 municipalities and two (2) cities. The total number of barangays in the

province is 557. Ilocos Norte was chosen to be the locale of the study because the Ilocos region is a part

of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The virus reached the Ilocos

Region on March 20, 2020, increasing up to present.

Moreover, the researchers obtained the top 3 local government units that have the highest

COVID19 cases in Ilocos Norte namely Laoag City, Sarrat and City of Batac. The researchers will also

determine the top 1 barangay with the highest COVID19 cases in each of the chosen local government

units in Ilocos Norte.

Research Instrument

Pre-testing will be performed twice to test the reliability of the instrument using 20 independent

subjects who has similar criteria as the final respondents. Revisions will be made after two pre-testing.

Finally, data gathering instrument will be administered to the final respondents.

This study will use questionnaires to gather the needed data. For the questionnaire’s draft, it was

drawn based on the researchers’ readings on literature, previous studies, professional literature, and

published theses relevant to the study. For instance, a statement describing the situation or issues

pertaining was toned down to accommodate the knowledge preparedness of the respondents. Open-ended

questions were provided to accommodate free formatted views related to the topic. The survey-

questionnaire is composed of three parts. In Part 1, it comprises the Respondent’s Profile. The Part 2 aims
 College of Health Sciences

to determine the Level of Knowledge on Positive Stress Coping Mechanisms and Part 3 aims to

determine the Common Practices of the Respondents on Stress Coping.

Population and Sampling Procedures

To meet the adequate sample size and ensure proper sample representativeness, the researchers

will use stratified random sampling to choose the respondents. Additionally, the researchers will utilize

Slovin’s formula in determining the proportional amount of population to consider from Barangay 9 San

Lorenzo Sarrat, Barangay 23 San Matias Laoag City and Barangay Baligat City of Batac which has the

highest COVID19 cases in Ilocos Norte.

Participants shall be within the age limit of 21 – 59 years old of any gender since they are the age

group that do not belong under the vulnerable group.

Data Gathering Procedure

The researchers will request permission from the Dean of the College of Health Sciences through

the Department Chair of the Department of Nursing. After permission is secured, the researchers will

request a permission to the municipal mayors of the selected local government units through the Barangay

Captains of Barangay 9 San Lorenzo Sarrat, Barangay 23 San Matias Laoag City and Barangay Baligat

City of Batac of which has the highest COVID19 cases in Ilocos Norte. After which, respondents were

then identified and informed of the purpose of the study. Informed consent for each of the respondents

will also be obtained. Due to the present situation, the questionnaires will be administered through google

form and answered by the target respondents to obtain substantial data pertaining to knowledge of the

respondents on positive stress coping mechanisms. The participation of the respondents will take 4-5 days

to answer the given questionnaire.

Ethical Consideration

Ethical approval will be sought from the MMSU Research Ethics Review Board

(URERB) prior to conducting the study to check for any ethical issues. The researchers will fully observe
 College of Health Sciences

the relevant ethical principles throughout the conduct of the study. Only after gaining approval from the

MMSU URERB will the researchers begin the pre-testing of the survey questionnaire. Same as true is

applied for the participants, the consent is to be sought first from the respondents via google form right

before answering the questions. And thus, through which, all the necessary information regarding the

research process is provided and explained simply and concisely. Additionally, it should be highlighted

that they are not forced to participate, instead, they have the choice whether to do so or not, since this is

merely voluntary and that they may withdraw anytime, if they want to. Also, they should be informed that

participation to this study would only require a bit of their time, effort and internet connection.

Furthermore, rest assured that, anonymity and confidentiality are to be maintained since respondents are

given with the option to remain anonymous, as a means for them to answer the questions honestly without

being conscious in the data collection, analysis and reporting of the study findings. In line with this, all

forms of data of the involvement of the participants can only be accessed by the researchers and will be

kept in full confidentiality. The instrument used in the study will be submitted to URERB for safe

keeping and will be shredded after 3 years from the day of the study. Thus, being done, minimal to no risk

therefore, is associated in participation to this study. The study will provide as awareness to the

community with regards to positive stress coping mechanism. This study will improve the perception and

knowledge of Ilocos Norte Residents on positive stress coping mechanisms. And this study will serve as

basis on planning certain programs and actions related to this study

Statistical Treatment of Data

The data from the set of questionnaires were tabulated and statistically analyzed using the

following statistical tool.

Frequency and weighted mean will be used as the statistical treatment in this study to analyze and

interpret the results. Each of the specific problems will be separately considered to obtain appropriate

answers to each question to gain the overall average of the study participants' responses or perceptions.

Range Interval Descriptive Interpretation

 College of Health Sciences

3.26 - 4.00 Very Highly Knowledgeable (VHK)

2.51 - 3.25 Highly Knowledgeable (HK)
1.76 - 2.5 Slightly Knowledgeable (MK)
1.00 - 1.75 Not Knowledgeable (NK)
The Likert four-point scale will be used in the study. The following range intervals with their

corresponding descriptive interpretations will describe the respondents’ level of knowledge on positive

stress coping mechanisms.

In terms of the determining the common practices of the respondents on stress coping

mechanisms, the following range intervals with their corresponding descriptive interpretations will be

used:

Range Interval Descriptive Interpretation

3.26 - 4.00 Always (A)
2.51 - 3.25 Often (S)
1.76 - 2.5 Rarely (R)
1.00 - 1.75 Never (N)
 College of Health Sciences

CHAPTER IV

PRESENTATION, INTERPRETATION, AND ANALYSIS OF DATA

This chapter contains detailed presentation and discussion of data analysis and the results of this

study.

I. Socio-demographic Profile of Research Respondents

On the whole, the study had 197 respondents. Tables 1 illustrate the socio-demographic profile of

the respondents.

Table 1. Socio-demographic profile of the student respondents. (n=197)

Indicators f %
Age 52 – 59 12 6.09
47 – 51 5 2.54
42 – 46 4 2.03
37 – 41 4 2.03
32 – 36 8 4.06
27 – 31 7 3.55
21 – 26 157 79.7
Sex
Male 66 33.5
Female 131 66.5

Civil Status
Single 172 87.31
Married 24 12.18
Widow/Widower 1 0.51

Educational Attainment
College Graduate 63 31.98
College Undergraduate 113 57.36
High School Graduate 15 7.61
High School Undergraduate 5 2.54
Elementary 1 0.51

Occupation
Government Employee 30 15.23
Private Employee 22 11.17
Self-employed 7 3.55
None 138 70.05
Place of Residence
Rural 119 60.41
Urban 78 39.59
 College of Health Sciences

Age. As presented in table 1, out of the 197 respondents, majority of the respondents were ages

21-26 (79.7%), while four (2.03%) were ages 37 – 41 and 42 - 46. This indicates that majority of the

respondents of this study belongs to the group of generation Z born (between 1996-2015). According to

the Age and Sex Structure of the Philippine Population (2010), the school-age population (5 to 24 years

old) in the country comprised 41.8 percent of the 92.1 million household populations. In the Province of

Ilocos Norte, it was presented the populations each group and age group between 20-24 were 49,483

populations.

Sex. Table one reveals that, of the 197 respondents, majority of the respondents were females

(66.5%), whereas 66 (33.5%) were males. This indicates that big majority of the respondents of this

study were females. This confirms the findings of PSA (2015) that in the community, there are more

female than male.

Civil Status. Majority of the respondents are single (87.31%). According to the Philippine

Statistics Authority, in 2015, there were 34.8 million single persons in the Philippines, or 44 percent of

the total population 10 years old over. This is higher by 3.5 million compared to the 2010 report of 31.3

million single persons. Thus, most of the population in the community were single.

Educational Attainment. As shown in the table above, majority are college undergraduate

(57.35%). According to Philippine Statistics Authority (2013), the educational attainment of the

population in the country had improved since year 2000. The proportions of graduates of both secondary

and tertiary (college) levels had increased from 2000 to 2010. In 2010, high school graduates accounted

for 19.1 percent compared to only 12.9 percent in 2000. College graduates increased from 4.3 percent in

2000 to 10.1 percent in 2010. Moreover, according to New York University (2009), college students now

report being more stressed-out than ever before and many of the emotional and physical symptoms that
 College of Health Sciences

occur commonly in the college population, such as headaches, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and the

inability to cope, can be attributed to or exacerbated by stress.

Occupation. It can be gleaned from Table 1 that majority are students (70.05%). College

students commonly experience stress because of increased responsibilities, a lack of good time

management, changes in eating and sleeping habits, and not taking enough breaks for self-care. (The

Learning Center, 2008)

Place of residence. It is evident that majority of the respondents are living in rural area

(60.41%), while there are 78 respondents (39.59%) living in urban area. Philippine Statistics Authority

(2013) reported that 92.3 million populations in the Philippines in 2010, 41.9 million lived in areas

classified as urban while the rural population or those who loved in areas classified as rural numbered

50.5 million.
 College of Health Sciences

Table 2. Level Of Knowledge of The Respondents on Positive Stress Coping Mechanisms

Positive Coping Mechanism Mean DI
1. Joining team sports 3.01 HK
2. Practicing meditation 3.06 HK
3. Doing regular exercise 3.31 VHK
4. Doing yoga 2.55 HK
5. Swimming or unwind in beaches 3.35 VHK
6. Getting a massage 2.97 HK
7. Sleeping and taking enough rest 3.57 VHK
8. Walking/running in the 3.29 VHK
neighborhood
9. Attends to dancing classes 2.31 SK
10. Making myself busy with everyday 3.33 VHK
activities
11. Singing and listening to music 3.68 VHK
12. Watching movies and entertaining 3.69 VHK
comedies
13. Sharing one’s problem with 3.24 HK
parents, friends, and teachers
14. Contacting professionals like 2.49 SK
psychologists or counselors
15. Connecting with loved ones 3.52 VHK
through video calls, phone calls,
texts or social media
16. Putting into action some potential 3.25 HK
solutions for effectively managing it
17. Praying, reading religious scripts, 3.47 VHK
listening spiritual songs
18. Making a list of your personal 3.14 HK
strengths and use these to help both
yourself and others stay
emotionally strong.
19. Avoiding caffeinated and alcoholic 3.08 HK
drinks close to bedtime

Overall Mean 3.17 HK

Legend:

Range of Means Descriptive Interpretation

3.26 - 4.00 Very Highly Knowledgeable (VHK)

2.51 - 3.25 Highly Knowledgeable (HK)

1.76 - 2.50 Moderately Knowledgeable (MK)

 College of Health Sciences

1.00 – 1.75 Not Knowledgeable (NK)

Table 2 shows the level of knowledge of the respondents regarding positive stress coping

mechanisms with an overall mean of 3.17 and a descriptive interpretation of Highly Knowledgeable. This

implies that respondents are highly knowledgeable on positive stress coping mechanisms.

As shown in the table above, watching movies and entertaining comedies has the highest mean

of 3.69. This indicates that people are ―very highly knowledgeable” that this technique is a positive

coping mechanism. This correlates to the discussion Philippine Red Cross regarding the Regularly

practice self-soothing techniques, whereas they elaborated watching a movie, as one of the ways to self-

soothe that will help one cope with stress and prevent becoming more stressed.

Movie therapy (MT) increased general self-esteem in teenagers suffering from serious emotional

disturbances (Powell, Newgent & Lee, 2006). In Poor Reza's study (2006), depression was significantly

lowered in chronic schizophrenic patients. Sharp, Sharp (2002) attest that movie therapy is more than just

watching a movie. They state that movie therapy involves therapeutic discussion of the selected movie

signifying the client/character similarities via strategic questioning and metaphorical language. This helps

to lower client resistance in the process group. Hesley and Hesley (2001) assign watching the therapeutic

movie as homework to save time and for cost effectiveness. This procedure will reinforce the key points

leading to mastery of the desired behaviors in the natural settings and ultimately connect the knowledge

gained in therapy to real life experience (p.11). Mongin (1999) asserts that the movies more likely

influence the patients emotionally rather than having an impact on the intellectual level; movies help

reduce defense mechanisms like repression. Movies can be used as a medium for self-exploration.

Through movie therapy, client may identify with his chosen heroes in the film and ensuing analysis of

character behaviors, needs, and drives. Movies not only can diagnostically raise the level of a client’s

insight, but also may help to resolve the client's difficulties. The goal is to help the client face his issues in

an objective manner by viewing a story similar to that of his own and then by applying that learning to his
 College of Health Sciences

own situation (Rizza, 1997). Moreover, movie therapy encourages client to talk about his issues with a

sense of hope. The characters in movie model a set of behaviors that can help client solve his problems.

Equipped with various lenses, movies can be effective in modifying observer's cognition, attitude, and

behavior. By stimulating emotions and changing levels of Neoendorphins and stress hormones, movies

also bind biological effects.

According to Gary Solomon Ph.D., MPH, MSW (2000), the author of two books on cinema

therapy, watching movies encourages emotional release. Even those who often have trouble expressing

their emotions might find themselves laughing or crying during a film. This release of emotions can have

a cathartic effect and also make it easier for a person to become more comfortable in expressing their

emotions. This can be invaluable during counseling as well as in ―real life.‖ Sad films can make us

happier. While it might seem counter-intuitive, I think many of us can relate to this. I know that after I

watch a particularly sad or distressing film, I feel thankful for my own life and my ―smaller‖ problems in

comparison. Others’ tragedies make us more appreciative of everything good in our own lives.

Watching movies can help us make sense of our own lives. For thousands of years, knowledge

and wisdom have been passed down through the art of story-telling. Stories offer us different perspectives

and help us understand and make sense of the world. And movies are stories. Movies give us a break from

whatever is currently bothering us. We are transported to a different time and place and can just focus on

the present moment for a short time. This gives our brains a much-needed rest from ―the usual.‖ Movies

bring us a sense of relief, even if they stress us out first. Watching something suspenseful releases cortisol

(the stress hormone) in the brain, followed by dopamine, which produces feelings of pleasure.

Moreover, findings show that attending dancing classes has the lowest mean of 2.31 with a

descriptive interpretation that the respondents are slightly knowledgeable that this technique is a positive

coping mechanism. Dancing can improve your health in a lot of ways but there are both positive and
 College of Health Sciences

negative effects of being a dancer. Dance can help improve your health, body, and mind. Some of these

ways include fighting against diseases, improving posture and weight, and reducing stress. But there are

also some negative effects of dance including a higher risk of injuries and the lasting effects those injuries

can have on a person’s life. According to Hanna, J. L. (2017) stated in her book- The Oxford Handbook

of Dance and Wellbeing. Dancing is an art, exercise, and language that uses the mind-body

connection. Language is a way of explaining difficult ideas and topics with or without sound. Dance

uses both verbal and nonverbal meanings, vocabulary, and rules to express a bigger picture that connects

emotions and physical feelings that sometimes verbal words are not able to fully convey. This allows

people a more flexible and sometimes safer option to cope with problems. Dancing combats stress and

can be used as a coping skill because it releases dopamine and oxytocin, while also rebuilding the

brain. Dancing absorbs detrimental stress hormones and releases dopamine, the

pleasure hormone, instead. When this hormone is released, people experience motivation

and rewards which results in learning, improved mood, and increased memory.

Partner dancing is an especially power way to release oxytocin (the bonding hormone), which

makes us feel good. Dancing helps develop the brain and increases growth of cells that prolonged stress

would naturally break down. This results in improved mental health, reduced muscle tension (due to that

mind-body connection), and simply improves mood.

Dancing, and especially partner dancing, can therapeutic as a response to a stressful event as a

way to release tension, ―explain‖ peoples’ emotions through movement, or simply as a distraction. Dance

can even provide coping benefits before a stressful event occurs as it keeps the body and mind fully

charged and prepared for anything.

On the other hand, according to BP Dance Studio, Dance Classes’ cost varies from which

package will be availed. Per month, their Walk-in costs PHP 350, second is the 5-Class Package which

costs PHP1500, third is the 10-Class Package which costs PHP2800, and lastly the 20-Class Package

which costs PHP5200.

 College of Health Sciences

Table 3. Common stress coping mechanism practiced by the respondents.

Common Stress Coping Mechanism Mean DI
1. Make myself busy with everyday activities. 3.28 A
2. Concentrate my efforts on thinking of a solution/action 3.40 A
plan about the situation I’m in.
3. Drink alcohol and caffeine to make myself feel better. 1.99 R
4. Get emotional support from others/getting 3.05 O
help and advice from other people.
5. Exercise or getting outdoors to enjoy nature 3.22 O
6. Go outside the house and eat variety of foods. 3.21 O
7. Attend to dancing classes 1.57 N
8. Painting, writing, gardening or other creative activities. 2.67 O
9. Sing and listen to music 3.53 A
10. Watch movies and entertaining comedies 3.60 A
11. Make jokes about it. 2.91 O
12. Do something to think about it less, such as going to 3.48 A
movies, watching TV, reading, daydreaming, sleeping, or
shopping.
13. Find comfort in my religion or spiritual beliefs. 3.20 O
14. Blame myself for things that happened. 2.49 R
15. Practice relaxation exercises such as yoga, prayer and 2.80 O
meditation.
16. Get enough good quality sleep. 3.36 A
17. Take vacations away from home 2.69 O

Overall Mean 2.97 O

Legend:

Range of Means Descriptive Interpretation

3.26 – 4.00 Always (A)

2.51 – 3.25 O (Often)

1.76 – 2.50 Rarely I

1.00 – 1.75 Never (N)

Table 3 shows the different common stress coping mechanisms that respondents practice

whenever they are stressed.

 College of Health Sciences

As shown in the table above, watching movies and entertaining comedies has the highest mean

of 3.60 with a descriptive indication of always, making it as a common coping mechanism used by the

respondents. This correlates to the discussion Philippine Red Cross regarding the Regularly practice self-

soothing techniques, whereas they elaborated watching a movie, as one of the ways to self-soothe that

will help one cope with stress and prevent becoming more stressed. A study by Sideridis (2008) reveals

five most frequently used coping strategies by students; browsing the internet, sleeping and resting,

watching TV shows or movies, and instant messaging.

On the other hand, as seen in the results gathered, attending dancing classes has the lowest mean

of 1.57 with a descriptive indication of never, this implies that respondents do not use this coping

mechanism. It is supported by the literature stating that attending dancing classes is costly. According to

BP Dance Studio, Dance Classes’ cost varies from which package will be availed. Per month, their Walk-

in costs PHP 350, second is the 5-Class Package which costs PHP1500, third is the 10-Class Package

which costs PHP2800, and lastly the 20-Class Package which costs PHP5200. Moreover, Dancers are

high-performance athletes who are highly vulnerable to sustaining an injury (Ramkumar et al., 2016),

which can have severe consequences, such as required medical treatment, experienced discomfort,

decreased health-related quality of life, restricted artistic development due to absence from dance

activities, and a significant delay in studying (Kenny et al., 2016; Yau et al., 2017; White et al., 2018).

Previous literature showed prevalence and incidence rates of injuries among pre-professional ballet,

modern and contemporary dancers ranging from 37 to 86% and from 0.77 to 4.71 injuries per 1,000 h of

dance (Kenny et al., 2016; Lee et al., 2017; van Winden et al., 2019).
 College of Health Sciences

CHAPTER V

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This chapter presented the summary of the findings, conclusions, and recommendations drawn

from the whole study. This chapter aims to cover-up the result of the study.

Summary of Findings

The study was conducted for the purpose of determining the level of knowledge regarding

positive coping mechanisms of the residents of Barangay 9 San Lorenzo Sarrat, Barangay 23 San Matias

Laoag City and Barangay Baligat City of Batac, which has the highest COVID19 cases in Ilocos Norte.

The research group utilized the use of descriptive research design. The researchers used stratified random

sampling to choose the respondents and utilized Slovin’s formula in determining the proportional amount

of population to consider from Barangay 9 San Lorenzo Sarrat, Barangay 23 San Matias Laoag City and

Barangay Baligat City of Batac.

Prior to the conduct of the study, the researchers sought approval of the University Ethics Review

Board, as well as requested permission from the municipal mayors of the Local government Units in

Ilocos Norte which has the highest COVID19 cases in Ilocos Norte.

The research questionnaire served as the instrument for collecting data through the Google form.

The data that was gathered was tabulated and analyzed. The categories have been ranked and counted

through descriptive statistics like frequency count and rank distribution. The study was conducted during

the second semester of the academic year 2020-2021.

On the demographic characteristics of the respondents, particularly on age, majority is between

21-26 years old (79.7%). Whereas or the sex, majority of the respondents were females (66.5%). For the

civil status, majority of the respondents were single (87.31%). For the educational attainment, big
 College of Health Sciences

majority of 113 (57.36%) were college undergraduate. For the occupation, big majority of 138 (70.05%)

were unemployed. For the place of residence, majority of 119 (60.41%) were from Rural.

In relation to the Level of Knowledge of the Respondents on Positive Stress Coping Mechanisms,

with an overall mean of 3.17; watching movies and entertaining comedies had the highest mean of 3.69

which indicated that the respondents are “Very highly knowledgeable” that this technique is a positive

stress coping mechanism.

On the other hand, attending to dancing classes had the least mean of 2.31. Thus,

indicates that the respondents are “Slightly knowledgeable” that these are positive stress coping

mechanisms. In totality, the level of knowledge of the respondents regarding positive stress coping

mechanisms has an overall mean of 3.17 and a descriptive indication of ―Highly Knowledgeable”. This

implies that respondents are highly knowledgeable on attending dancing classes as a positive stress

coping mechanism.

As to the practice of these coping mechanisms with an overall mean of 2.97, “watching movies

and entertaining comedies” had the highest mean of 3.60 which implies that they practice this coping

mechanisms “Always”. On the other hand, as seen in the results gathered, attending dancing classes has

a mean of 1.57 with a descriptive indication of “Never”, this implies that respondents do not use this

coping mechanism.

Conclusion

According to the analysis of the Level of Knowledge of The Respondents on Positive Stress

Coping Mechanisms and the Common stress coping mechanism practiced by the respondents. The

following conclusions were drawn:

1. Most of the respondents belonged to ages 21-26 years old and females are more predominant than

males. Majority of the respondents were single, college undergraduate, and has no occupation
 College of Health Sciences

since majority of the respondents are students. Moreover, majority of the respondents are living in

a rural area.

2. Majority of the respondents are very highly knowledgeable on watching movies, and entertaining

comedies as a positive stress coping mechanism. Moreover, the respondents are slightly

knowledgeable that attending to dancing classes is a positive stress coping mechanism. In totality,

the level of knowledge of the respondents regarding positive stress coping mechanisms has an

overall mean of 3.17 and a descriptive indication of Highly Knowledgeable. This implies that

respondents are highly knowledgeable on positive stress coping mechanisms.

3. For the common stress coping mechanism practiced by the respondents, watching movies and

entertaining comedies is Always practiced while attending dancing classes is Never practiced by

the respondents when in stress.

Recommendations

1. Nursing Learners are encouraged to discover and employ positive stress coping mechanisms

to cope up with stress and impart the knowledge to others to further raise awareness.

2. University Administrator should critically examine the effectiveness of the study in raising

awareness about positive stress coping mechanisms and help support the learners in

conducting similar studies that can promote learning and acquiring new information during

the COVID-19 pandemic.

3. Health Practitioners are encouraged to design programs that could further raise awareness to

the public about positive stress coping mechanisms and advocate to enlighten people and

increase their knowledge for possible ways to reducing stress during the covid-19 pandemic.

4. Locale Government Unit are recommended to enforce programs to support need for further

information dissemination to the public about the positive stress coping mechanisms and raise

awareness to them.
 College of Health Sciences

5. Future Researchers are encouraged to conduct a study in Ilocos Norte on a larger scale of

respondents. To conduct further studies about the levels of knowledge in positive stress

coping mechanisms in another locale of Ilocos Norte.