Impact of Peer Counseling Programs on Stress Coping Strategies Among Final-Year Undergraduates Across Disciplines

Project Abstract

This study investigates the effectiveness of peer counseling programs in enhancing stress coping strategies among final-year undergraduates across disciplines, with a mixed-methods approach to capture both measurable outcomes and contextual experiences. The primary aim is to determine whether participation in structured peer-led counseling sessions improves adaptive coping mechanisms, reduces perceived stress, and enhances academic resilience during the critical transition from undergraduate study to postgraduate life or employment. The research adopts a sequential explanatory design, beginning with a cross-sectional survey (n ? 600) to quantify changes in coping styles using validated instruments such as the Brief COPE inventory and the Perceived Stress Scale, followed by in-depth interviews (n ? 40) and focus group discussions to explore the mechanisms through which peer support influences coping processes. The study includes final-year students from multiple disciplines across urban and peri-urban universities to ensure diversity in academic pressures, cultural backgrounds, and resource availability. Quantitative data will be analyzed using multivariate regression, structural equation modeling, and subgroup analyses to examine mediating and moderating roles of variables such as peer counselor training, session frequency, prior mental health literacy, social support networks, and gender. Qualitative data will be analyzed thematically to identify perceived benefits, barriers, and contextual factors that affect engagement with peer counseling, including stigma, confidentiality, accessibility, and peer counselor credibility. Ethical considerations encompass informed consent, confidentiality, and the provision of referral pathways for participants exhibiting high distress. The study hypothesizes that students who participate in peer counseling programs will demonstrate greater adoption of adaptive coping strategies—such as problem-focused coping, planning, and positive reframing—alongside reductions in maladaptive coping (e.g., denial, substance use), compared to non-participants. It also posits that the impact of peer counseling on stress reduction will be mediated by increased perceived social support and self-efficacy, and moderated by discipline-specific stressors and academic workload. Anticipated findings are that peer-led interventions contribute to improved psychological well-being, greater academic self-regulation, and enhanced readiness for post-graduation transitions, particularly among students with lower baseline coping skills. The study aims to inform campus mental health policies by outlining best practices for peer counselor selection, training curricula, supervision models, and program integration with existing university counseling services. Limitations include potential self-selection bias, variable fidelity of peer counselor delivery, and contextual differences across institutions that may affect generalizability. Overall, the research seeks to provide robust evidence on how peer mentoring contributes to resilient coping in late-stage undergraduates and to offer actionable recommendations for scalable, sustainable peer counseling initiatives across diverse academic settings.

Project Overview

What This Project Is About

---

This project looks at how peer-led counseling groups help final-year undergraduates manage stress. It compares students who participate in peer counseling with those who do not, across different disciplines, to see if these programs improve coping skills and reduce stress levels.

---

---

The Problem It Addresses

---

---

---

Objectives of the Project

---

1. Identify common stressors faced by final-year students across disciplines.
2. Assess the impact of peer counseling on students’ coping strategies.
3. Compare stress levels between participants and non-participants.
4. Suggest practical recommendations for integrating peer counseling into student services.

---

---

What You Will Do Step by Step

---

1. Review existing literature on stress, coping, and peer support.
2. Recruit participants from multiple departments and form peer counseling groups.
3. Administer pre- and post-surveys measuring stress and coping skills.
4. Conduct interviews or focus groups to gather qualitative feedback.
5. Analyze data to identify trends and differences between groups.
6. Draft findings and discuss implications for policy and practice.
7. Recommend how to sustain and scale peer counseling programs.

---

---

Expected Outcome