Content area
Full Text
The purpose of the present study was to study the impact of mantra chanting on stress coping strategies. For this purpose two types of coping strategies, approach coping and avoidance coping were measured with the help of "coping Strategies Scale" constructed by Shrivastav. Two Independent variables were studied Le. Mantra chanting and Gender. The sample consisted of 80 subjects (35- 50 years). A2x2 factorial design was used. Two way ANO VA was applied for analyzing the data. On the basis of obtained results it was found that mantra chanting is an influencing factor for coping strategies. People, who chant a mantra regularly, use more approach coping strategies than those, who do not chant a mantra. While people who do not chant a mantra regularly, they use avoidance coping strategies more than those people who chant mantra regularly. The effect of gender on coping strategies is not found significant.
Keywords: mantra chanting, stress coping, approach coping
Stress involves a perceived discrepancy between the demands of the situation and the resources of the person. Since people engage in coping. Coping is an effort to neutralize or reduce stress; coping activities are geared toward decreasing the person's appraisal of or concern for this discrepancy. Thus "coping is the process by which people try to manage the perceived discrepancy between the demands and resources they appraise in a stressful situation" (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984b).
The word manage in this definition is important. It indicates that coping efforts can be quite varied and do not necessarily lead to a solution of the problem. Although coping efforts can - and, some would argue, should - be aimed at correcting or mastering the problem, they may also simply help the person alter his or her perception of a discrepancy, tolerate or accept the harm or threat, or escape or avoid the situation (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984b).
Human being copes with stress through his cognitive and behavioral transactions with the environment. Coping involves ongoing transactions with the environment, the process is best viewed as a dynamic series. In coping with the threat of serious illness, people who make efforts to change their lifestyles may receive encouragement and better relationships with their physician and family. But individuals who ignore the problem are likely...