QUESTIONNAIRE
Challenges and Coping Strategies of Third-Year
Liberal Arts Students Experiencing Poverty
INSTRUCTIONS
- This questionnaire is designed to understand the challenges you face as a
third-year Liberal Arts student with limited financial resources and the
strategies you use to manage them.
- All responses are confidential and will be used for research purposes only.
- Please answer all questions honestly based on your personal experiences.
SECTION 1: BACKGROUND INFORMATION
1. Age: _________________
2. Gender:
- ☐ Male
- ☐ Female
- ☐ Prefer not to say
- ☐ Other: _________________
3. Liberal Arts Major/Concentration: _________________
4. Institution Attending: _________________
5. Which best describes your financial situation?
- ☐ Receiving full financial aid/scholarship
- ☐ Receiving partial financial aid/scholarship
- ☐ Self-supporting with no aid
- ☐ Supported by family but with limited income
- ☐ Other: _________________
6. Do you consider yourself to be experiencing poverty based on your daily
living and educational needs?
- ☐ Yes
- ☐ No
- ☐ Not sure
SECTION 2: EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGES
Please indicate how much each challenge affects you using the scale below:
☐ Not at all ☐ Slightly ☐ Moderately ☐ Severely ☐ Extremely
7. Inability to afford required textbooks, course materials, or software
- [Select one]
8. Difficulty paying for tuition, school fees, or registration costs
- [Select one]
9. Lack of access to reliable internet or devices for online classes/research
- [Select one]
10. Need to work part-time/full-time jobs, which reduces study time
- [Select one]
11. Inability to afford transportation to and from campus
- [Select one]
12. Difficulty accessing academic support services (tutoring, workshops) due
to cost or time constraints
- [Select one]
13. Other educational challenges (please specify): _________________
- How much does this affect you? [Select one]
SECTION 3: PERSONAL & LIVING CHALLENGES
Use the same scale: ☐ Not at all ☐ Slightly ☐ Moderately ☐ Severely ☐
Extremely
14. Struggling to afford adequate food or proper nutrition
- [Select one]
15. Difficulty paying for housing, rent, or utilities
- [Select one]
16. Stress related to providing financial support for family members
- [Select one]
17. Inability to afford healthcare or medical needs
- [Select one]
18. Feeling socially isolated due to inability to participate in campus
activities/events that cost money
- [Select one]
19. Other personal/living challenges (please specify): _________________
- How much does this affect you? [Select one]
SECTION 4: COPING STRATEGIES
Please check all that apply to you:
20. Educational Coping Strategies:
- ☐ Borrowing textbooks/materials from library or peers
- ☐ Using free online resources instead of paid ones
- ☐ Balancing work and study with strict scheduling
- ☐ Seeking out free academic support services
- ☐ Applying for scholarships, grants, or financial assistance
- ☐ Working with professors to arrange flexible deadlines
- ☐ Forming study groups to share resources
- ☐ Other: _________________
21. Financial Coping Strategies:
- ☐ Budgeting carefully for all expenses
- ☐ Taking on additional work or side jobs
- ☐ Cutting down on non-essential spending
- ☐ Receiving help from family/friends
- ☐ Accessing government assistance or community programs
- ☐ Selling personal items or doing freelance work
- ☐ Other: _________________
22. Emotional & Mental Coping Strategies:
- ☐ Talking to family/friends for support
- ☐ Seeking free or low-cost counseling services
- ☐ Practicing mindfulness, meditation, or exercise
- ☐ Joining support groups for students in similar situations
- ☐ Focusing on long-term goals to stay motivated
- ☐ Engaging in low-cost hobbies or activities
- ☐ Other: _________________
SECTION 5: OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS
23. What has been the most significant challenge you’ve faced as a third-
year Liberal Arts student with limited financial resources? How has it
impacted your studies and life?
24. Which coping strategies have been most helpful for you, and why?
25. What support or resources from your school or community would be most
beneficial to help students like you overcome these challenges?
26. Do you have any additional thoughts or experiences you’d like to share?
THANK YOU FOR COMPLETING THIS QUESTIONNAIRE