Coping strategies for race-related stress among black undergraduate and postgraduate students in UK higher education: an adapted biographical narrative interpretive method and thematic analysis study

Racially minoritised students at historically and predominately white universities (HWUs) often anticipate and experience interpersonal and institutional racial discrimination, which may impact their mental and physical wellbeing. There is limited research on coping strategies for race-based stress among Black UK university students. This article answered the research question: How do Black university students cope with racism and other life stressors in HWUs in the UK? Biographic Interpretive Narrative Method interviews with 24 Black undergraduate and postgraduate students were analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. This study makes original contributions by recording the variety of ‘culturally-compelled coping’ skills Black students may employ to avoid or reduce psychological distress and focus on achieving their educational goals. The findings also add new perspectives on stress coping models as pertaining to coping with racial and educational stressors. The authors present recommendations to help encourage adaptive coping and reduce distress among Black students at UK HWUs.