Student coping strategies and perceptions of fieldwork.

A questionnaire, the revised Ways of Coping Checklist, was sent to all professional (entry-level) graduate students in the United States in one academic year during their second fieldwork level II experience to determine what coping strategies they used during their fieldwork experience. Information was also gathered regarding their perceptions of this clinical experience. Responses from 101 students showed that they used Problem-Focused and Seeks Social Support strategies more than Wishful Thinking, Blamed Self, or Avoidance strategies. More than half of the students found the experience to be stressful, and almost all agreed that it was important. Most agreed that they had control over their present circumstances in the fieldwork experience.