Association between attachment style and coping strategies among undergraduate students who were in quarantine during lockdown at an institution of higher learning

Abstract

University students are faced with multiple stressors including academic, financial, social, and psychological stressors. The South African nationwide COVID-19 lockdown resulted in the suspension of contact learning, and transition into multimodal learning and universities established quarantine and isolation spaces for repatriated students and staff members. Studies have found that students who were in quarantine experienced irregular sleeping patterns, decreased appetite, difficulty in sleeping, feelings of worry, tension, loneliness, and depressive symptoms increased during this period. This study aimed to investigate the association between attachment styles and coping strategies among undergraduate students who were in quarantine at an institution of higher learning. The study further aimed to investigate the differences in attachment styles among undergraduate students. The study adopted a correlational design and sampled 240 undergraduate students who were in quarantine at an institution of higher learning. Purposive sampling method was used. Data was collected using a survey which included demographic information, the Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR) and the COPE Inventory. The study found that there were no significant differences in the attachment style of the students in relation to sociodemographic variables. There were no significant differences in attachment styles according to age, sex, home residence, level of education, faculty, and raised by. Furthermore, there were associations between attachment styles and coping strategies. Attachment anxiety and overall active coping strategies were positively correlated, however not significantly. There was significantly positive correlation between attachment anxiety and overall evasive coping strategies. Attachment avoidance and overall active coping strategies were negatively and significantly correlated. Lastly, there was positive correlation between secure attachment and active coping strategies