THE PHENOMENON OF STRESS RESILIENCE AND THE PECULIARITIES OF ITS FORMATION IN THE APPLICANTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION UNDER CONDITIONS OF UNCERTAINTY

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to theoretically substantiate the essence of the phenomenon of stress resilience and to determine the peculiarities of its formation in the applicants for higher education under conditions of uncertainty, as well as to identify the factors influencing the level of stress resilience.

Methodology. The methodological basis of the study is formed by the theoretical provisions of the concept of the «general adaptation syndrome» (H. Selye); scientific approaches to understanding the psychological nature of stress resilience and its structural components (O. Kokun, S. Kravchuk, V. Korolchuk, R. Lazarus, T. Ponomarenko, H. Selye, S. Folkman, A. Shyshyn); ideas concerning the individual’s ability to resist negative influences (H. Dubchak, M. Korolchuk, V. Krainiuk, A. Kosenko, T. Kocherhina, etc.); provisions on the individual’s readiness to cope with stress (M. Diachenko, etc.); and the interpretation of stress resilience as an integrative property of the personality (O. Kravtsova, V. Krainiuk, etc.).

Scientific novelty. For the first time, a comprehensive theoretical analysis of the phenomenon of stress resilience among the applicants for higher education has been carried out specifically under conditions of social, economic, and educational uncertainty. The correlation between the concepts of «stress resistance» and «resilience» has been established based on the content of their key components. The factors influencing the formation of stress resilience in the applicants for higher education have been identified, as well as the peculiarities of its manifestation and the levels of its development under conditions of uncertainty.

Conclusions. The article substantiates that stress resilience is a complex integrative characteristic of the personality, which provides the ability to adapt, self-regulation and maintain psychological balance in conditions of stress and uncertainty. A correlation between the concepts of «stress resistance» and «stress resilience» based on the content of their key components was established. It was proven that student age is an important stage in the formation of stress resilience, as it is accompanied by psychophysiological, social and professional changes. Among the leading factors in its formation, the following were identified: academic load, features of social adaptation, professional self-determination, level of emotional support, ability to self-regulation and the formation of effective coping strategies. It was established that conditions of uncertainty increased the psycho-emotional stress in the applicants for higher education and actualize the need to develop their stress resilience. The emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and social components in the structure of this phenomenon were distinguished, and high, medium, and low levels of its formation were characterized.