Coping strategies as a mediator between stress and marital quality among postrgraduate students

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate coping strategies as a mediator between stress and marital quality among married postgraduate students. During tertiary education, married postgraduate students are exposed by academics and family challenges which bring impact on their marital relationship. A total number of 225 respondents from various universities (UTM=45, UPM=45, UKM=45, USM=45, UM=45) were participated. Data was collected by using purposive sampling technique. All respondents were asked to answer Conflict Resolution Style Inventory (CSRI), Graduate Stress Inventory-Revised (GSI-R) and marital Quality Questionnaire (MQQ). Data were analysed using Smart-PLS Software. Based on Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (SEM-PLS), this study showed that there were several factors have been identified as the risk factors toward marital detrimental. In order to counter the stress, coping strategies were integrated in the mediation analysis. The results indicated that coping strategies were suitable to be a good mediator to reduce the negative effect of stress towards marital quality. This study have good implications for psychologist, counsellors and educators to understand married university students’ marital relationship.