Abstract

Individual and collective trauma can adversely affect college students. However, effective coping methods can help mitigate its effects and lead to better stress-related and quality-of-life (QoL) outcomes for students. This study explored how stress, QoL, and adaptive coping methods were reported by college students prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic using two separate cohorts, pre-pandemic in 2017 (N = 377) and during the pandemic-era (2021–2023; N = 325). An online survey including validated measures of perceived stress, QoL, adaptive coping strategies, and social support was conducted in both time periods. The pandemic-era cohort reported significantly higher stress levels, lower QoL levels, less nutrition-based and spirituality-based coping, and poorer parental and peer social support. This study’s results show that pandemic-era college students exhibited fewer adaptive coping strategies and reported poorer social support. Interventions, particularly therapeutic, to bolster adaptive coping during stressful and traumatic times for young adults are needed.