ISSN 2029-2236 (print) ISSN 2029-2244 (online) SOCIALINIų MOKSLų STUDIJOS SOCIETAL STUDIES 2016, 8(1), p. 63–77. Socialinių mokslų studijos / Societal Studies  Mykolo Romerio universitetas, 2016  Mykolas Romeris University, 2016 ISSN 2029-2236 (print) ISSN 2029-2244 (online) http://www.mruni.eu/lt/mokslo_darbai/SMS/ http://www.mruni.eu/en/mokslo_darbai/SMS/ COPING BEHAVIOUR AND DIFFICULT LIFE SITUATIONS OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN RUSSIA Ilya Shmelev Higher School of Economics 11 Myasnitskaya Ulitsa, Moscow, Russia E-mail: shmelevilya@gmail.com Oleg Pavenkov Saint Petersburg Institute of Cinema and Television 13 Pravda St., St. Petersburg, Russia E-mail: pavenkov@yandex.ru Received 10 May, 2016; accepted for publication 03 September, 2016 DOI:10.13165/SMS-16-8-1-4 Abstract. Tis article p resents a n investigation of coping behaviour with regard to difcult life situations among Orthodox students in Russia. It analyses the results of an exploration of the infuence o f r eligiosity o n d iferent co ping st rategies. Te sam ple investigated includes Orthodox students from two universities in the Russian Federation. In the study, we used the questionnaire “Me and my attitude towards religion”, Heim’s technique for revealing individual coping strategies, Smirnov’s psychometric technique encompassed in the “Questionnaire of religious activity”, and Shcherbatykh’s “Test for revealing the level of individual religiosity”. Te study suggests that diferent coping strategies can be applied in difcult life situations. Sociopsychological analysis in the study showed that there is a relationship between the level of religious belief and strategies used to overcome difcult life situations. Te presence of a positive connection between protective and capturing behaviour showed that highly religious people are characterised by active non-adaptability. Such people overcome difcult situations with energy and activity, combined with an expression of humility in the face of the situation. Keywords: Coping behaviour, coping strategies, difcult life situation, religiosity.