Relations between stress, coping strategies, and prosocial behavior in U.S. Mexican college students

Abstract

Objective: We explored the explanatory roles of active and avoidant coping in the link between stress and emotional prosocial behavior in U.S. Mexican college students. Participants: Participants included 148 college students (M_age = 23 years, 67% female, 84% born in the U.S.) who self-identified as Mexican or U.S. Mexican or noted that their parents or grandparents were of Mexican or U.S. Mexican origin. Methods: Introduction to Psychology students at state universities in California and Texas completed a self-report survey packet and received class credit for their participation. Data were analyzed via path analysis using Mplus 8.1 software. Results: U.S. Mexican college students’ stress was indirectly associated with their emotional prosocial behavior through both active and avoidant coping strategies. Conclusions: Relations between stress and adjustment (i.e., emotional prosocial behavior) is dependent upon individuals’ coping tendencies. U.S. Mexicans may cope with their stress by engaging in emotional prosocial behavior.

Keywords:

• Stress
• coping
• prosocial behavior
• Mexican-origin