LAUSR

ABSTRACT This study examined the mechanisms of resourcefulness and perceived control of stress in the relationships between academic stress and students’ resilience, university adaptation, and physical health, respectively. A sample of 586 undergraduate students completed questionnaires assessing the aforementioned variables. Analyses involved serial and parallel indirect effect models which demonstrated that individuals higher in academic stress were more likely to be less resilient if they were less resourceful and had lower perceived control of stress. Similar indirect effects were observed for the relationships between academic stress and the outcome variables university adaptation and physical health. Guided by existing theory, further serial indirect effects testing suggested that resourcefulness and perceived control of stress were best conceptualized as correlated processes. The importance and utility of teaching resourcefulness skills to students is discussed.