Walking the Untrodden Path: Discovering a Relation Between the PERMA Model of Well-Being and Different Coping Strategies Employed by Afghani International Students

Abstract

Mental well-being is no longer a second option when it comes to the burgeoning pressures, as humans’ incessant struggle continues for sky-scraping levels of betterment and the need to keep in line with the super dynamic world. Owing to such demands, stepping out of one’s comfort zone becomes inevitable, especially when opportunities for some do not come in handy as is the case with countries like Afghanistan, Nepal, Nigeria, to name a few. The applicability of PERMA in diverse areas has proved to be rewarding when it comes to overall well-being. However, prior researches signal the paucity of exploration of PERMA in the arena of higher education, so this paper attempts to discover the relation between PERMA and Coping Strategies in Afghani International students. Standardized tools were administered to measure the PERMA model of well-being and coping. The study was conducted on a sample of 30 participants (N=30) in the age range 18-30 years, studying in Shimla and Chandigarh-based universities. The findings of the study revealed interesting results, whereby meaning among all the PERMA elements bore a significant positive relation with most of the coping strategies falling under the purview of emotion and problem-focused. Similar was the case with emotional support, which had a significant positive correlation with most PERMA elements. Surprisingly, positive emotions were significantly positively correlated with behavioral disengagement (avoidance-focused). Implications include extending greater social support and welcoming approach for students which will embolden the use of emotional support coping. Furthermore, PERMA cells should mushroom across university campuses.