The main aim of this study is to understand higher education students' perspectives on highly adverse experiences (HAE). Using the qualitative method and, more specifically, applying the principles of Grounded Theory, we sought to understand how the participants conceptualize experiences of adversity. In other words, to understand their knowledge of the phenomenon and what situations they consider to be or to have been highly adverse in their lives. The results showed that the participants' knowledge is significantly aligned with the theoretical literature available on the subject under study. The characteristics most frequently associated with HAEs include the negative charge associated with the event, the perceived uncontrollability of the situation and the subjectivity in evaluating the events as traumatic. In addition, the group of participants also considered that HAEs trigger significant psychological suffering for those who experience them and that they cause changes in the individual system of beliefs and meanings. The HAEs identified by the participants were categorised into four distinct subcategories: experiences in the family context, in the academic context, in the social sphere and in the personal sphere. According to the participants, the main psychological consequences that the HAE originated were: the development of psychopathological conditions, feelings of fear, sadness, shame, acute reactions to stress (feelings of shock) and a significant change in the individual attribution of meanings. It was also possible to partially understand the coping strategies used by the participants to deal with stress. It was realised that, in general, the participants used emotional based strategies to deal with situations of adversity in their lives. Another category emerged from analysing the data, which concerns the positive aspects perceived by the participants in their contact with adversity. It was noted that the participants developed more autonomy, empathy, psychological maturity, assertiveness in dealing with problems and that they perceived an improvement in the quality of family relationships.
Date of Award | 19 Oct 2024 |
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Original language | Portuguese |
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Awarding Institution | - Universidade Católica Portuguesa
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Supervisor | Catarina Ribeiro (Supervisor) & Diogo Costa (Co-Supervisor) |
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- High adversity experiences
- Potentially traumatic experiences
- Perspectives of higher education students
Experiências de elevada adversidade: perspetivas de estudantes de ensino superior
Crista, É. A. S. (Student). 19 Oct 2024
Student thesis: Master's Thesis