‘Owning up’, ‘distracting myself’, ‘accepting it and getting on with life’: Exploring the nuances of youth coping strategies in Aotearoa New Zealand

This study examines how young people in Aotearoa New Zealand identify and respond to stressors in their everyday lives, with a focus on strategies perceived as helpful or unhelpful. Using open-ended survey responses, 475 participants aged 16–21 identified a recent stressor and described the most and least helpful ways they coped. Inductive content analysis identified seven categories of stressors, including relational challenges, performance pressures, future uncertainty, health concerns, and broader societal issues. Eight categories of coping responses were identified, with substantial overlap between those described as helpful and unhelpful. Strategies such as social support, distraction, and avoidance were often evaluated differently depending on context, relational dynamics, and perceived controllability. These findings highlight that coping is not inherently helpful or unhelpful, but is shaped by situational factors and individual appraisals. Implications include the need to move beyond binary classifications of coping and prioritize flexible, youth-informed approaches to supporting well-being.