Research in Medical Education

  Introduction: Coping strategies consider as cognitive and behavioral attempts, people use in stressful situation to prevent, manage, and reduce stress. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between self- efficacy, self- actualization and coping strategies among students at University of Guilan.

  Methods: This is a descriptive-analytic and correlational research. To do this study, 200 students were selected from Humanities Faculty University of Guilan through a cluster random sampling method in the 2013-2014. To collect data, Jones and Crandall Self-Actualization Questionnaires, Schwartz and Jerusalem Self-efficacy Questionnaire and short form of Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations, that have acceptable reliability and validity were used. Data were analyzed by Pearson correlation test and regression through SPSS software.

  Results: Research findings suggested that there were significant positive relationship (P<0.01) between self- efficacy (r= 0.42), self- actualization (r= 0.35) and problem-oriented coping strategy. There were significant negative relationship (P<0.01) between self- efficacy (r= -0.21) , self- actualization (r= -0.28) and emotion-oriented coping strategy. Also no significant relationship between avoidance- oriented coping strategy and self- efficacy (r= 0.09), self- actualization (r= 0.07) were found.

  Conclusion: The results of present study support the importance of self-efficacy beliefs and self- actualization in problem-focused coping strategies among students.