Association between ABO Blood Group Phenotype and Reaction to Academic Stress and Coping Strategies among College Students

Introduction: Proper stress response and use of ideal coping strategy can reduce stress-related poor academic performance and ill health among college students. However, whether individual’s stress response/coping method is related to the blood type has not been empirically examined.

Objectives: Given this, this study examined the relationship between ABO blood type and reaction to academic stress and coping strategies among college students in Southern Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 319 (142 male and 177 female) students. They were examined using Perceived stress scale-10 (PSS-10) which measures stress level. Reaction to stress and coping strategy questionnaires (CSQ) were used to measure four types of stress reactions and coping methods.

Results: Prevalence of perceived stress was 79.6%. Most of the stressed participants (46.5%) were of blood group O. Most prevalent reactions to stress versus (vs) coping methods according to blood type were emotional (99.3%) vs religious (95.0%), emotional (88.4%) vs active distracting (90.9%), behavioral (82.5%) vs active practical (95.0%), and physiological (91.5%) vs active distracting (98.3%), for blood groups A, B, AB and O respectively. Compared to those with blood group A, participants with blood groups B and AB had higher odds of emotional reaction to stress (Odds Ratios (ORs); 2.13, (95% Confidence intervals (CI):1.459-2.799) and 1.47(95% CI: 0.555-3.871) respectively. ORs and CIs for cognitive reaction were 5.68(1.866-36.486) and 1.71(0.429-6.773) for blood groups B and AB respectively. For behavioral reaction, ORs and CIs were 1.25(0.494-3.174), 2.08(1.684-6.309) and 1.54(0.575-4.09) for blood groups B, AB and O respectively, while ORs and CIs for physiological reaction was 2.75(1.302-10.877) for blood group O. Active practical, active distracting, religious and active practical coping methods were mostly used by individuals with blood groups A, AB, B and O respectively.

Conclusion: There is a relationship between individuals’ ABO blood type and the risk of being stressed, type of stress response and coping methods employed to combat stress. Interventions to reduce stress and associated disorders should among other factors consider individuals’ blood group.