Abstract
Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of stresses to female university students and their habits of dealing with stresses through drinking alcohol and smoking. Methods : Subjects, 313 students, were selected through convenience sampling method from the 2 four-year universities in Chonbuk and Chonnam province from May to June, 2005. Data were collected through the structured questionnaires that include general characteristics, Quantity Frequency methods, the number of cigarette per day, campus stress scale, and stress coping style scale, and they were analyzed by Cronbach' alpha, descriptive statistics, ANOVA and t-test by using SPSS/PC+ program. Results: In this study, 80% of subjects have drunk alcohol. The mean frequency of drinking alcohol per month was 4.68 times and the mean number of alcohol consumption amount per drinking 6.16 glasses. The rate of smoking was 13.7%, and the mean number smoking cigarette per day in the previous month was 12.4. The mean score of stress was 2.20. Among 8 sub-factors of stress, study related stress scored highest among the sub-factors. The mean score of coping styles was 2.50. Among 4 coping styles, hopeful thought was mostly used. Among stresses, the concern of one's future affected her drinking habits. Faculty relationship, academic problem, and value affected smoking habits. Hopeful thought comes out to affect smoking, while drinking, perceived health status, and practice time showed no relationship with coping style. Conclusion: Based on the results, developing a life stress counseling program and effective coping program for women's university students is imperative, especially for those of who show passive attitude toward stress and solve it emotionally instead of using problem-oriented methods. Also, it will be necessary to study further nursing intervention to curb university females' drinking alcohol and smoking.