African Journal of Business Vol.5 (9), pp. 3614-3622, 4 May 2011 Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/AJBM DOI: 10.5897/AJBM11.091 ISSN 1993-8233 ©2011 Academic Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study into the levels of decision making and wıth of the students of physıcal education and sports college

Murat Tekin

Karamano₣lu Mehmetbey University College of Physical Education and Sports, 70100 Karaman , Turkey. E-mail:[email protected].

Accepted 18 February, 2011

The purpose of the current study is to investigate the levels of decision making and coping with stress of students of physical education and sports college. The research group was made up of 413 girls and 590 boys ( X age=21.4607±1.8792), 1003 in total, studying at the physical education and sports colleges of Gazi University, Selçuk University, Kocaeli University, A₣rı Ğbrahim Çeçen University and Karamano₣lu Mehmet Bey University. To achieve the purpose of the research, “The Inventory of the Attitudes of Coping with Stress” and “Melbourne Scale of Decision Making” were based on and applied to the students that participated in the research. In the analysis and assessment of the data, multiple linear regression test was used and significance was taken as P<0.05 and in the evaluation of the data and the determination of the calculated values, SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) package program was used. At the end of the study, a significant relation was found between the levels of decision making and coping with stress of the students studying at the physical education and Sports College.

Keywords: Physical education, decision making, coping with stress.

INTRODUCTION

Today, one spends most of his life in the process of (1990) defines decision making as the application of the instruction up to period of adulthood. University students’ resolutions depending on knowledge and skills and points levels of decision making and coping with stress are of out that, critical thinking improves the setting of learning importance. Human being, as a biological and social where there are problem solving and discussion. existence, has some physiological psychological and In another definition, decision making is given in 3 social needs. A university student is a person with his dimensions. These dimensions could be briefed as own developmental problems as an individual. He is in a follows: position of finding his identity, adopting national and universal values of the society, adapting to it and 1. The content of the decision; the factors related to the reaching to maturity. Therefore, they face periods decision. Educational program, personnel, students, pursuant to efforts to cope with and being psychologically financial and physical sources, the relation of school and fine. So, it is important for them to adapt to social life and community. improve healthy social relations. In this respect, the 2. The process of decision making; how the decision is needs, problems, the adaptation period of them to the taken and the steps of decision making. Getting to know university setting are also of importance (Özbay and the problem, defining the problem, creating choices, Palanci, 2000). Conley (1991) puts an emphasis on the expressing the decision, creating the decision and significance of defining decision making in terms of both evaluating the validity of the decision. quantity and the way it happens (Ferrara and Repa, 3. Agreeing on the decision; it is not only important what 1993). In another study by Orlich et al. (1998), Court the decision is dealt with but also who agrees on it Tekin 3615

(Lipman et al., 1985). or trying to adapt to a new situation by struggling. Being able to cope with the that are a part of our daily The fact that individuals are always in an expectation life actively and on purpose is of great importance in and new approaches lead them to a difficult situation in terms of a healthy life. Coping with stress or in other terms of the strategies they follow in decision making. words stress management is essential to keep mental Therefore, while the individual shows behaviors of and physical and maintain a productive and approach to a decision and decision making, the efficient life. If stress is able to be controlled, it could be a strategies and styles he uses gains importance. In order motivating force encouraging him in order to cope with to feel satisfaction of life and improve himself, an the factor preventing the individual from realizing his individual should attain the skill of suitable and effective aims. Coping is the behavioral and cognitive efforts decision making to help him (Ersever, 1996). That a made, so as to demands and conflicts coming person regards a phenomenon, process or event as a from both internal and external factors. In another problem could be related to the self-esteem of him. The definition, coping is the total of behavioral and cognitive relation he connects makes him see a source as a stress efforts allowing to reduce internal and external demands or accepts it as a natural process. Used by almost created by a stressful situation and to cope with or everybody in daily life, the concept of stress is also a endure it (Pincus and Friedman, 2004). Students are psychological phenomenon experienced by many people. affected by stress extensively. For the students coming to The concept of stress derives from the old French term university and starting a new life; so many causes such “Esterece” with a meaning of “trouble” or “challenge”. as the new setting they are introduced, new friends and However, it is most likely derived from the Latin word of lecturers and economical troubles bear the potential of “stringere” which means string or stretch (Graham, 1997). stress. The excessive and emerging due to Stress is one of the most studied issues due to its short these causes have a negative impact on their learning and long term negative effects in physical, mental, process, performance and levels of decision making emotional sense on human being, depending on its (Brown and Sue, 1999; Humphrey et al., 1998). The intensity or on the perception type of perception by the purpose of the researcher is to determine the relation one who experiences it. Stress has been defined in between levels of decision making and coping with stress different forms up to the current time. In this study, one of of the students at the college of physical education and the definitions of stress, cognitive definition putting an sport. emphasis on human – environment interaction was In this sense, a trial should be made to determined investigated. Stress, in this sense, is “the demands following: putting the harmony of man into danger at the interaction of human – environment, forcing or exceeding current 1. The relation between the levels of decision making and sources” (Folkman et al., 1986). As for coping with stress, active planning sub-dimension in coping with stress; it is defined as “the process of managing the demands 2. The relation between the levels of decision making and over which the individual evaluates his sources as seeking for support sub-dimension in coping with stress; consumptive or extremely forcing” (Lazarus and Folkman, 3. The relation between the levels of decision making and 1984). The first one of these concepts is that, coping is a taking the religion as a shelter sub-dimension in coping process or an ongoing complex interaction between an with stress; individual and his environment. The second one is that 4. The relation between the levels of decision making and coping is regarded as the relation with the administration refrain abstraction (emotional-actual) sub-dimension in rather than eliminating it; stress is considered within a coping with stress; realistic point of view and thought that, not every problem 5. The relation between the levels of decision making and will be coping. The third concept is that, this definition refrain from abstraction (Bio-chemical) sub-dimension in contains a concept of evaluation in it. If such a case is coping with stress; thought to be the one creating stress, it is the one 6. The relation between the levels of decision making and creating stress. accept – cognitive reconstruction sub-dimension in Finally, coping is something to put an effort and coping with stress of the students at the college of contains cognitive and behavioral efforts concerning the physical education and sport . management of the case leading to a potential stress. With the evaluation of the phenomenon of coping with stress as a process, it is clear that individuals make some METHOD evaluations dealing with the source of stress and the process of coping starts with a cognitive evaluation. Research group Stress could have an impact on the life quality of an The research group was made up of 413 girls and 590 boys individual, causing to have a negative mental and ( X age=21.4607+1.8792), 1003 in total, studying at the physical emotional effect on people, so leading them to expe- education and sports colleges of Gazi University, Selçuk University, rience discomfort (Gürça₣, 2008). When encountered Kocaeli University, A₣ri Ibrahim Çeçen University and Karamano₣lu with stress, individual is away from the setting of danger Mehmet Bey University. 3616 Afr. J. Bus. Manage.

Data collection one of the choices of “never”, “rarely”, “sometimes”, “frequently” or “always”. Students were also asked to choose and mark the item Current data concerning the purpose of the research was first given best fitting them while answering the inventory. systematically through scanning of the literature. In that way, a 6 factors determined through the technique was named as active theoretical framework was formed. Secondly, in order to achieve planning, seeking for external support, taking the religion as a the purpose of the research, “The inventory of the attitudes of shelter, refrain abstraction (emotional-actual), refrain abstraction coping with stress”, developed by Özbay (1993) aiming at foreign (Bio-chemical), accept – cognitive reconstruction. Besides, struc- students studying at a university in the United States of America tural factor analysis, criteriom validity was obtained with the help of and adapted to Turkish by Özbay and ğahin (1997), and the a similar scale and findings were obtained concerning the validity of “Melbourne Scale of Decision Making” developed by Mann et al. the test. The scale of the styles of coping with stress developed by (1998) and adapted to Turkish by Deniz (2004) were based on and ğahin and Durak (1995) was used as a criterion. It was found in a applied to the students that participated in the research. The relation between SSOS and IAOS at a level of 0.54 (p<0.001) in characteristics of the data collection tool are given as follows. general sense. The reliability of the test was realized through the method of Cronbach Alfa inner consistency. General reliability coefficient of the test was found as 0.81. Özbay and ğahin defined Melbourne scale of decision making these 6 factors as follows.

“Melbourne Scale of Decision Making” originally developed by Active planning: It was consisted of 10 items including rational Mann et al. (1998) was adapted to by Deniz (2004) and carried out steps and methods of mostly doing something actively, starting the the study of validity and reliability. The validity and reliability studies process directly, increasing active efforts, creating action plans, of Melbourne Scale of Decision Making I – II (MSDM) were carried focusing on the thing at the moment and being in a systematic of out over the evening, students of Selçuk University, Faculty of problem solving. Technical Education, Department of Computer Systems Teaching and Automotive Teaching in the education year 2002 to 2003 and Seeking for external support: Applying for social support could be data was collected out of 154 students (Deniz, 2004). regarded in two ways. These are the tendency of the demand for Melbourne Scale of Decision Making was divided into two parts. instrumental external support and emotional external support. This 1st part: It is aimed at determining self-esteem in decision making. It sub-scale was consisted of 9 items aiming at assessing the was made up of 6 items and 3 items were scored in the straightway attitudes of seeking for support at emotional, cognitive and physical while 3 of them were scored in the reverse way. The item of “True” level. were scored as 2 points, “Sometimes True” was scored as 1 point and “Not True” was scored as 0 point. The maximum score to be Taking the religion as a shelter: The items taken in this factor put obtained in the scale was 12. Higher scores were the indicator of a mostly an emphasis on taking a supreme power as a shelter, higher self-esteem in decision making. 2nd part was comprised of 22 praying and taking hearth form beliefs. This factor was made up of items and assessed the styles of decision making. It had four sub- 6 items. factors (Deniz, 2004) namely: Refrain-Abstraction (emotional-actual): It was taken in the 1. The style of careful decision making: It is the case where factorial structure as two-dimensional. The items were dealt with the individuals carefully search for the necessary knowledge, before attitudes of coping with stress in the form of abstracting oneself making a decision and evaluating the alternatives carefully and then from the situation in a passive way and this factor was made up of 7 make a selection. items. 2. The style of shy-away decision making: It is the case where individuals keep away decision making, let others make the Refrain abstraction (Bio-chemical): This dimension could be decision and so is the case where he avoids from decision making thought of as the tendency to make a physiological change as a by handing the responsibility over another one. passive strategy of coping with difference from emotional – actual 3. The style of delaying decision making: It is the case where refrain and abstraction. These are the coping methods such as individuals constantly delay, postpone and run around his decision smoking, taking alcohol and feeling a propensity to drugs. This without a reasonable cause. This factor was expressed in 5 items. factor was represented through 4 items. 4. The style of panic decision making: It is the case where individual exhibits hasty behaviors feeling himself under the pressure of time, Accept – cognitive reconstruction: It is the method of accepting as soon as he is in a position of decision making and puts an effort the problem and looking for new solutions in a cognitive way. The to find quick solutions. This factor was expressed in 5 items. sub-scale was made up of 7 items.

The inventory of the attitudes of coping with stress The analysis of the data

In the research, the inventory of the attitude of coping with stress In the analysis and comment of the data, multiple linear regression was used in order to determine the styles of coping with stress of test was used and the significance was taken as P<0.05. In the university students. “The inventory of the attitudes of coping with evaluation of the data and finding the calculated values, SPSS stress” is the scale of coping with stress that was originally (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) was used. developed by Özbay (1993) aiming at foreign students studying at a university in the United States of America. The inventory was adapted to Turkish by Özbay and ğahin (1997). The purpose of the FINDINGS inventory was to assess the styles of coping with stress of individuals at various stress conditions. At the end of factor analysis As given in Table 1, a significant relation was found in the study of Turkish adaption, 43 expressions out of 56 items of between the total sub-dimension of the levels of decision original inventory of coping with stress were grouped under 6 factors. The inventory was arranged depending on a 5 scored Likert making and the sub-dimension of active planning in type and the participants were asked to read each item and mark coping with stress (p<0.05). The value of 18.471 F Tekin 3617

Table 1. The capacity to explain the active planning sub-dimension in coping with stress of the levels of decision making of the students at the college of physical education and sports.

Dual Partial B SHB β t P r r Fixed 31.107 1.111 28.011 0.000 Careful decision making -0.323 0.082 -0.136 -3.948 0.000 -0.134 -0.124 Shy decision making -0.208 0.090 -0.089 -2.322 0.020 -0.033 -0.073 Effective decision making 0.581 0.092 0.221 6.325 0.000 0.125 0.196 Panic decision making -0.430 0.100 -0.151 -4.287 0.000 -0.075 -0.134

R=0.291 R2=0.085 F=18.471 P=0.000

Table 2. The capacity to explain seeking for the external support sub-dimension in coping with stress of the levels of decision making of the students at the college of physical education and sports.

Dual Partial B SHB β t P r r Fixed 23.283 1.477 15.762 0.000 Careful decision making -0.969 0.109 -0.298 -8.896 0.000 -0.200 -0.271 Shy decision making -0.585 0.119 -0.182 -4.904 0.000 -0.057 -0.153 Effective decision making 0.958 0.122 0.266 7.844 0.000 0.098 0.241 Panic decision making -0.808 0.133 -0.208 -6.056 0.000 -0.178 -0.188

R=0.369 R2=0.136 F=31.504 P=0.000

obtained shows that, the levels of decision making as a explains taking the religion as a shelter in coping with whole explains active planning in coping with stress in a stress in a significant way. In the examination of t test significant way. In the examination of t test results results concerning the significance of regression concerning the significance of regression coefficient, it is coefficient, it is clear that there is an effective explanation clear that there is an effective explanation between active between taking the religion as a shelter sub-dimension in planning sub-dimension in coping with stress and careful coping with stress and careful decision making, shy decision making, shy decision making, effective decision decision making, effective decision making and panic making and panic decision making sub-dimensions decision making sub-dimensions considered in the levels considered in the levels of decision making. of decision making. As is clear in Table 2, a significant relation was found As is clear in Table 4, a significant relation was found between the total sub-dimension of the levels of decision between the total sub-dimension of the levels of decision making and the sub-dimension of seeking for external making and the sub-dimension of refrain-abstraction support in coping with stress (p<0.05). The value of (emotional) in coping with stress (p<0.05). The value of 31.504 F obtained shows that, the levels of decision 26.926 F obtained shows that, the levels of decision making as a whole explains seeking for external support making as a whole explains refrain-abstraction in coping with stress in a significant way. In the exami- (emotional) in coping with stress in a significant way. In nation of t test results concerning the significance of the examination of t test results concerning the regression coefficient, it is clear that there is an effective significance of regression coefficient, it is clear that there explanation between seeking for external support sub- is an effective explanation between refrain-abstraction dimension in coping with stress and careful decision (emotional) sub-dimension in coping with stress and making, shy decision making, effective decision making careful decision making, shy decision making, effective and panic decision making sub-dimensions considered in decision making and panic decision making sub- the levels of decision making. As is clear in Table 3, a dimensions considered in the levels of decision making. significant relation was found between the total sub- As given in Table 5, a significant relation was found dimension of the levels of decision making and the sub- between the total sub-dimension of the levels of decision dimension of taking the religion as a shelter in coping making and the sub-dimension of refrain-abstraction (bio- with stress (p<0.05). The value of 5.646 F obtained chemical) in coping with stress (p<0.05). The value of shows that, the levels of decision making as a whole 6.705 F obtained shows that, the levels of decision 3618 Afr. J. Bus. Manage.

Table 3. The capacity to explain the taking the religion as a shelter sub-dimension in coping with stress of the levels of decision making of the students at the college of physical education and sports.

Dual Partial B SHB β t P r r Fixed 15.166 1.310 11.578 0.000 Careful decision making 0.348 0.097 0.128 3.599 0.000 0.050 0.113 Shy decision making 0.390 0.106 0.145 3.686 0.000 0.055 0.116 Effective decision making -0.359 0.108 -0.119 -3.311 0.001 -0.048 -0.104 Panic decision making 5.416 0.118 0.017 0.458 0.647 0.037 0.014

R=0.166 R2=0.027 F=5.646 P=0.000

Table 4. The capacity to explain the refrain-abstraction (emotional) sub-dimension in coping with stress of the levels of decision making of the students at the college of physical education and sports.

Dual Partial B SHB β t P r r Fixed 11.559 0.848 13.627 0.000 Careful decision making 0.330 0.063 0.179 5.275 0.000 0.101 0.165 Shy decision making 0.556 0.068 0.304 8.121 0.000 0.109 0.249 Effective decision making -0.244 0.070 -0.119 -3.474 0.001 -0.097 -0.109 Panic decision making -0.548 0.077 -0.248 -7.157 0.000 -0.187 -0.221

R=0.345 R2=0.119 F=26.926 P=0.000

Table 5. The capacity to explain the refrain-abstraction (bio-chemical) sub-dimension in coping with stress of the levels of decision making of the students at the college of physical education and sports.

Dual Partial B SHB β t P r r Fixed 0.275 0.429 0.640 0.522 Careful decision making -0.112 0.032 -0.125 -3.533 0.000 -0.072 -0.111 Shy decision making -3.052 0.035 -0.035 -0.882 0.378 0.025 -0.028 Effective decision making -3.809 0.035 -0.039 -1.074 0.283 -0.042 -0.034 Panic decision making 5.181 0.039 0.049 1.338 0.181 0.000 0.042

R= 0.180 R2=0.032 F=6.705 P=0.000

making as a whole explains refrain-abstraction (bio- making as a whole explains accept – cognitive chemical) in coping with stress in a significant way. In the reconstruction in coping with stress in a significant way. examination of t test results concerning the significance In the examination of t-test results, concerning the of regression coefficient, it is clear that there is an significance of regression coefficient, it is clear that there effecttive explanation between refrain-abstraction (bio- is an effective explanation between accept – cognitive chemical) sub-dimension in coping with stress and reconstruction sub-dimension in coping with stress and careful decision making, shy decision making, effective careful decision making, shy decision making, effective decision making and panic decision making sub- decision making and panic decision making sub- dimensions considered in the levels of decision making. dimensions considered in the levels of decision making. As shown in Table 6, a significant relation was found between the total sub-dimension of the levels of decision making and the sub-dimension of accept – cognitive DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION reconstruction in coping with stress (p<0.05). The value of 14.663 F obtained shows that, the levels of decision A significant relation was found between total Tekin 3619

Table 6. The capacity to explain the accept – cognitive reconstruction sub-dimension in coping with stress of the levels of decision making of the students at the college of physical education and sports.

Dual Partial B SHB β t P r r Fixed 20.817 0.882 23.592 0.000 Careful decision making -0.137 0.065 -0.073 -2.112 0.035 -0.099 -0.067 Shy decision making -0.180 0.071 -0.097 -2.522 0.012 -0.076 -0.080 Effective decision making 1.240 0.073 0.006 0.170 0.865 -0.011 0.005 Panic decision making 8.694 0.080 0.039 1.091 0.276 0.032 0.034

R=0.261 R2=0.068 F=14.663 P=0.000

sub-dimensions of decision making levels and active decision making levels and that the level of decision planning sub-dimension in coping with stress (p<0.05). making of those feeling confidence for themselves and Depending on F value, there was an effective explanation behaving themselves carefully were affected. Folkman et between active planning sub-dimension in coping with al. (1986) found in their study carried out on 85 married stress and careful decision making, shy decision making, couples that, evaluation and coping had a significant effective decision making and panic decision making sub- regressive impact for psychological symptoms and also dimensions considered in the levels of decision making. found a relation between psychological symptoms and These results show us that individuals have active efforts the strategy of planned coping with. The findings of these in taking more healthy decisions. Furthermore, it will help studies were parallel to the current study. individuals in doing more active things, starting the Individual features enable the sources of stress and process directly, increasing active efforts and taking methods of coping to reply in various contents and such healthier decisions in action plans and also help them in individual features as optimism and pessimism might what and how to decide in the process of decision have an impact on exhibiting different types of coping making. attitudes in stressful situations (Chang and Bridewell, Çetin (2008) investigated the decision making styles, 1998). A significant relation was found between the total social skill levels and the forms of coping with stress of a sub-dimensions of the levels of decision making and total of 980 students of the college of physical education seeking for an external support in coping with stress and sport, 497 first year and 483 fourth year, chosen (p<0.05). Depending on F value, there was an effective randomly at the universities of central Anatolia in the explanation between active planning sub-dimension in educational year 2006 to 2007 and found a significant coping with stress and careful decision making, shy relation between the decision making styles of the decision making, effective decision making and panic students and the sub-dimensions of coping with stress. decision making sub-dimensions considered in the levels Deniz (2004) found in the research named “A study into of decision making. According to these results, it reveals the Relation between the Students’ Styles of Self-Esteem that individuals demand in searching external aid is Decision Making in Decision Making and their Problem important and when they need to decide, they collect Solving Skills of university students” having a higher level information according to aims and targets. Furthermore, of stress were influenced in their level of decision making. this result can be explained by individuals’ encounter to Deniz (2006) examined stress, life satisfaction, self- adaptation to new environments and orientation, esteem in decision making and the styles of decision effectuating and achieving, formation of expectation and making of 492 Turkish university students and found a future . significant relation between the styles of decision making Radford et al. (1993) pointed out that, the university of university students and their level of stress. students with a higher level of decision making would In a study carried out by Pullis (1992), professional experience less stress of decision making and exhibit stresses of teachers were examined in terms of stress more susceptible behaviors to selection and responsibility sources of them, their effects and methods of coping with styles. As is clear in these researches, self-esteem has them. In this sense, 244 teachers were included in the an impact on decision making process and the styles of research. At the end of the study, the stress sources decision making of individuals. Sandler (2000) concerning career development at school and workload investigated the impact of deciding their careers were perceived more stressful compared to those depending on the student’s integral model and perceived concerning the relation with students and they had an stress levels and found that, external variables had an effect on their level of decision making. In a study by impact on the levels of decision making of adult students. Özbay and ğahin (1997), it was found that the problem of These studies also have parallel findings with the current individuals in coping with stress had an influence on their study. A significant relation was found between the total 3620 Afr. J. Bus. Manage.

sub-dimensions of the levels of decision making and decision making and panic decision making sub- taking religion as a shelter in coping with stress (p<0.05). dimensions considered in the levels of decision making. Depending on F value, while there was an effective These results show that, individuals when making explanation between taking religion as a shelter sub- decisions are influenced by alterations in the dimension in coping with stress and careful decision physiological. making, shy decision making, effective decision making Ross et al. (1999) investigated stress sources among considered in the levels of decision making, there was 100 university students and found that, bio-chemical not a significant relation between panic decision making levels especially had an impact on the levels of decision sub-dimensions. The results showed that, individuals making depending on the levels of taking alcohol and took religion as a shelter mostly while taking decision, using drugs. Howard and Medway (2004) examined the prayed and decided taking hearth from their beliefs. Such relation between the levels of dependence of the high a result showed that, individuals having positive school students in the period of adolescence and the uncertainties in the process of decision making were sure cases of coping with stress. They carried out the study about their future and in the case where they had no skill over 75 high school students and investigated the levels to decide reasonably, they took religion as a shelter. of dependence on their parents, the forms of coping, life Stone and Neale (1984) carried out a study on 12 stress and who they turned to in stressful situations. It married couples and found that while men used the was found in the study that the dependence in terms of methods of acting directly, women preferred such passive and affection of adolescents had a positive strategies as keeping away and praying. Active coping relation while it had a negative relation with the behaviors strategies had an impact on the levels of decision of coping with negative stress (refrain behaviors). In the making. These studies also had similar findings with the study called Decision Making at People: the Performance current study. A significant relation was found between of Men and Women on Different Cortisol Reactivity, Bos the total sub-dimensions of the levels of decision making et al. (2009) 71 university students were included and it and refrain – abstraction (emotional) in coping with stress was found that the bio-chemical levels of students had an (p<0.05). Depending on F value, there was an effective impact on their decision making levels. These studies explanation between refrain – abstraction (emotional) had parallel findings with the current study. A significant sub-dimension in coping with stress and careful decision relation was found between the total sub-dimensions of making, shy decision making, effective decision making the levels of decision making and accept- cognitive in and panic decision making sub-dimensions considered in coping with stress (p<0.05). Depending on F value, while the levels of decision making. The results showed that, there was an effective explanation between refrain – one decided so comfortably while deciding or solving a abstraction (bio-chemical) sub-dimension in coping with problem by abstracting himself constantly in a passive stress and careful decision making, shy decision making way. In other words, in any situation and in a stress effective decision making considered in the levels of formation development, university students present more decision making, there was not a significant relation effective and active styles rather than having passive and between panic decision making sub-dimensions. abstractionist behavior. Thus, they present characteristics According to these results, when individuals come such as addressing and solving strategies. across any problem, they try to decide by finding rapid In a study, Krenke (2000) examined casual relations and new solutions in his opinion cognitively. In their between stressful events, the style of coping and the study, Deniz and Yilmaz (2006) examined the relation symptoms of stress at adolescents. 94 adolescents and between emotional intelligence of 428 university students their mothers were included in a 3 – year evaluation and the styles of coping with stress. At the end of the made up of critical life experiences, daily stress creators study, they found that, there were significant relations in a and the styles of coping. It was found that critical life positive way between the dimensions of total emotional experiences and daily stress creators were in a strong intelligence, personal awareness, interpersonal skills, relation with each other and that, the type of stress consistency, stress management and general mental creator was not in a constant connection with the stress situation of the university students and problem based symptoms in adolescents. On the contrary, withdrawing, coping sub-dimension out of the styles of coping with which is a type of coping based on refrain, was found to stress. Renk and Creasey (2003) found in their study be a certain indicator of stress symptoms in adolescents carried out on university students that problem based and constantly. This study was also parallel with the current refrain based coping had an impact on the levels of study. A significant relation was found between the total decision making of the students. sub-dimensions of the levels of decision making and In a study carried out on 21 high school students by refrain – abstraction (bio-chemical) in coping with stress Hains and Szyjakowski (1990), it was found that the (p<0.05). Depending on F value, there was not an program of group guidance developed by the researches effective explanation between refrain – abstraction (bio- depending on the education of stress inoculation and chemical) sub-dimension in coping with stress and comprising the skills of cognitive coping and relaxation careful decision making, shy decision making, effective had an impact on the levels of decision making of Tekin 3621

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