Coping Strategies For the Prevention of Social Violence in University Students

• Published in: RGSA : Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental 2024-09, Vol.18 (9), p.e08670
• Main Authors: Palacios-Serna, Lina Iris, Obando-Peralta, Ena Cecilia, Durand-Ascárate, Luis Augusto, Velazco-Reyes, Benjamín, Soto, Idana Beroska Rincón
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1981-982X; 1981-982X
• DOI: 10.24857/rgsa.v18n9-192

Purpose: The objective is to point out the scientific evidence available on coping strategies, based on a systematic review of relevant articles existing in the scientific literature.   Theoretical framework: The university environment is not alien to the processes of violence, harassment and discrimination in society as a whole. In this context, the analysis of the relationships that unfold in university communities reveals practices that materialize symbolic violence originating in inequalities, in historical and structural social hierarchies. (Franco & Puglia, 2023). Hence, the coping responses are related to the way the subject perceives events, as well as the internal resources available (Diaz, Y., 2010 and Coppari et al., 2019).   Method: Its design is a systematic review without meta-analysis. From a total of 139 initial references detected in the Web of Science, Scopus, Scielo, Redalyc, Dialnet, and Google Scholar databases, 22 studies were selected that met the defined quality and selection criteria. The PRISMA matrix was used for coding. The coping strategies category and subcategories such as author, year of publication, country; study population; design; the various types of instruments that measure coping strategies and the main results were used.   Results and discussion: As a result of the review of the articles, 70% of university students show a predominance of coping strategies related to problem solving, 25% refer to strategies for evaluating stressful situations and developing a plan and executing tasks. The other 5% range in the use of strategies for seeking professional help and religious practice. On the other hand, 60% of the studies report that students show problem-focused strategies and 40% stand out in the use of emotional-focused strategies.   Conclusion: According to the results, it is inferred that the use of coping strategies helps prevent violence because it allows highlighting the assertive way of how to act by mediating the cognitive and emotional aspects in response to adverse, difficult, pressure situations.   Implications: Coping strategies allow to cope with difficult situations and help create healthy environments in a population that requires the implementation of acceptable social behaviors that promote peace and the sustainability of a peaceful society with less violence.   Value: Therefore, the review carried out is relevant, because it emphasizes how coping strategies allow to cope with difficult situations and h