CHARACTERISTICS OF COPING BEHAVIOUR OF VIETNAMESE AND RUSSIAN STUDENTS

The importance of the topic – study of coping behavior in the process of adaptation – is determined by the necessity to understand deeper mental defense mechanisms against stress in different situations. The goal of the research is to identify the specifics of the coping strategies of Vietnamese and Russian students in the process of their adaptation to a new situation while studying at a university. Four questionnaire methods were used in the research. 120 Vietnamese and Russian students from different faculties participated in a gender-equal sample represented in four subgroups aged 18–22: 30 young men from Vietnam, 30 girls from Vietnam, 30 young men from Russia, 30 girls From Russia (RUDN, Moscow). The results of the comparative analysis show that the level of confrontational copying, distancing, and seeking social support prevails among Vietnamese students. Russian young men demonstrate a low level of tension and the ability to control emotions. The strategy of accepting responsibility under extreme anxiety dominates among Vietnamese students. The probability of emotional stress development is higher among Russian students. The study has identified factor structures of test groups which indicate the connection between emotions and stress formation in difficult situations for Russian and Vietnamese students and revealed a high degree of copying aimed at distraction and avoidance of problems, a responsible and positive solution to the problem for Vietnamese students. Russian students have a predominance of coping aimed at distraction and avoidance of a stressful situation through communication. The specified features can be taken into account in the development of psychological assistance programs to improve the level of adaptation of Vietnamese and Russian students in a Russian university with international students.