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Introduction
Adjustment is the psychological process of adapting to, coping with, and managing the problems, challenges, and demands of everyday life. Many researchers such as Abdullah, et.al, in 2009 1 proved that problems of adjustment initiated most commonly during first academic year of students. The adjustment is a difficult and multidimensional process which requires many competencies to properly integrate with the environment such as quality and quantity of studies, accommodation with new teachers and classmates, which may cause psychological, social and academic difficulties and problems. Freshmen face all new things in a university which is stressful for them, as they have to deal with new fellows, professors, staff members, administration - even entire environment is changed for freshmen; they have to follow new time table, different educational formats, and also exhibit different social relationships. Their hopes and expectations are also affected by the adjustment process.
This poses a threat for students and they have to cope with it. If they fail to cope with these problems, it will cause psychological distress and low level of adjustment. In this scenario, coping strategies seem helpful to reduce psychological distress and enhance their adjustment. Adaptation to university life is a major change for young adults, as they have to deal with new environment.2
People affected by psychological distress are at an increased risk of poorer general health, morbidity and mortality.3 Globally, many studies have reported high rates of mental health problems among undergraduate students aged 18-24 years.4-6 For instance, in a sample of 1557 Irish university students, the prevalence of psychological distress was found to be 41.9%.7 Psychological distress is a broad concept that comprises, besides mental disorders, other mental health problems that may not fall into the typical diagnostic criteria. Psychological distress causes lack of adjustment and failure in the spheres of career life and it is negatively correlated with adjustment.8
Further, coping leads to a student towards a life of dealing with academic life or it provides ability to a student to alter their situation or helps to maintain the power of struggling and boost up his motivation which helps in better adjustment. A number of researches describe relationship between these variables (psychological distress, adjustment and coping). According to Leong Bonz and Zachar 9 coping is...