Table 3.
Summary of reported coping mechanisms and strategies among nursing students in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries
| Coping mechanism (number of primary studies) | Coping strategy | Specific coping strategy (primary studies) |
|---|---|---|
| Problem-focused (n = 19) | Active coping | Problem solving (n = 11) [70, 72, 74, 75, 81, 85, 91, 92, 95, 97, 98] |
| Taking action to try to make the situation better (n = 2) [106, 107] | ||
| Problem-focused coping (n = 1) [108] | ||
| Problem understanding and solving (n = 2) [107, 109] | ||
| Solving family problems (n = 1) [110] | ||
| Self-reliance (n = 1) [110] | ||
| Did what is expected of me (n = 1) [76] | ||
| Tension reduction (n =1) [108] | ||
| Self-analysis to understand the situation better (n = 1) [76] | ||
| Unspecified (n = 1) [111] | ||
| Planning | Planning strategy (n = 1) [71] | |
| Suppression of competing activities | Engaging in demanding activities (n = 1) [110] | |
| Restraint coping | Passive coping (n = 1) [94] | |
| Seeking social support for instrumental reasons | Asking others for help (n = 1) [109] | |
| Seeking diversions (n = 1) [110] | ||
| Developing social support (n = 1) [110] | ||
| Emotion-focused (n = 20) | Seeking social support for emotional reasons | Unspecified (n = 1) [108] |
| Discuss feeling with friends or classmates (n = 1) [76] | ||
| Positive reinforcement and growth | Positive reframing (n = 2) [71, 107] | |
| Focusing on the positive (n = 1) [108] | ||
| Wishful thinking (n = 3) [73, 107, 108] | ||
| Staying optimistic (n = 11) [72, 74, 75, 81, 83, 85, 92, 95, 97, 98, 112] | ||
| Acceptance | Unspecified (n = 2) [71, 111] | |
| Accept the situation (n = 2) [69, 76] | ||
| Turning to religion | Practicing religion (n = 1) [111] | |
| Prying or mediating (n = 1) [106] | ||
| Finding comfort in religion or spiritual beliefs (n = 1) [106] | ||
| Religious related strategies come first (n = 1) [71] | ||
| Use of religion, prayer, invocation (n = 2) [69, 109] | ||
| Dysfunctional coping (n = 17) | Focus on and venting of emotions | Venting (n = 1) [71] |
| Show their feelings and express their reaction (n = 2) [107, 109] | ||
| Ventilating feelings (n = 1) [110] | ||
| Self-blaming (n = 1) [71] | ||
| Self-criticism (n = 1) [73] | ||
| Behavioral disengagement | Unspecified (n = 1) [71] | |
| Social withdrawal (n = 1) [73] | ||
| Avoidance (n = 9) [72–74, 85, 92, 97, 98, 107, 112] | ||
| Mental disengagement | Become involved in other activities (n = 1) [76] | |
| Detachment (n = 1) [108] | ||
| Transference (n = 9) [72, 74, 75, 83, 92, 95, 97, 98, 112] | ||
| Physical exercise and relaxation (n = 1) [109] | ||
| Denial | Unspecified (n = 1) [71] |