THE EFFECT OF PROBLEM-FOCUSED COPING ON THE STRESS LEVEL OF INTERNSHIP STUDENTS OF THE CLASS OF 2022 HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT UNIVERSITAS NEGERI PADANG

Abstract

Purpose — This study aims to examine the effect of problem-focused coping on internship stress levels among Hospitality Management students of the 2022 cohort at Universitas Negeri Padang.

Methodology/Design/Approach — This research employed a quantitative causal approach with a population of 132 internship students from the July–December 2025 period, from which a sample of 100 respondents was determined using the Slovin formula. Data were collected through a validated and reliable Likert-scale (1–5) questionnaire and analyzed using simple linear regression and a t-test with the aid of SPSS 27.00.

Findings — The results show that problem-focused coping falls into the good category with a Respondent Achievement Level (TCR) of 3.53, while internship stress also falls into the good category with a TCR of 3.62. Simple linear regression analysis produced an F value of 84.727 with a significance of 0.000, and a t value of −9.205 with a regression coefficient of −0.801, indicating that problem-focused coping has a negative and significant effect on internship stress levels. The better students' problem-focused coping ability, the lower the stress they experience during internships.

Originality/value — This study empirically confirms the causal link between problem-focused coping and internship-related stress among hospitality students, and recommends stress-management debriefing and strengthened problem-focused coping strategies before students undertake internships in the hospitality industry.