Table 7: Coping Skills for anxiety and depression by gender

Talk to someone for help

Males

Females

Total

%

%

%

Social networks

Friend own age

77.8

85.7

82.7*

Parent

39.5

48.1

44.9*

Older friend

23.5

25.0

24.4

Other relative

18.2

24.4

22.1*

No one

11.9

6.3

8.4*

Professional services

Doctor

6.6

7.8

7.3

Counsellor

4.4

6.8

5.9*

Lecturer

2.0

1.2

1.5

Clergy

2.2

1.0

1.4* 

Help line

1.2

0.5

0.7

*Significant between gender (p<.01)

The issues which currently contributed to feeling stressed on a regular basis

(very often/often) were clustered by means of factor analysis, into three main

factors   college studies, living conditions and personal/interpersonal issues

(Table 8). Overall, the highest factor as a source of stress related to

demands of college studies. A higher proportion of female students in

comparison to male students reported experiencing stress on a regular basis

from study demands and exams as well as finance, family situation, circle of

friends and illness. The only item where males reported experiencing stress

more often was in relation to their sexuality.

Table 8: Sources of Regular Stress by gender

Sources of Regular Stress

Males

Females

Total

College studies

%

%

%

Exams

57.9

73.0

67.4*

Subject specific demands

53.8

67.2

62.1*

Studies in general

50.6

64.9

59.6*

Living Conditions

Financial situation

39.5

45.5

43.3*

Work outside college 

18.9

22.3

21.0

Family situation

14.9

22.5

19.7*

Living situation

17.7

20.5

19.4

Personal & Interpersonal

Relationships

23.3

23.3

23.3

Competition at college

14.7

19.0

17.4

Anonymity at college

14.2

11.9

12.7

Circle of friends

10.6

11.7

11.2*

Illness

8.2

11.9

10.4*

Sexuality

6.8

3.2

4.4*

*Significant between gender (p<.01)

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