Stress, mental health, and protective factors in nursing students: An observational study

• Published in: Nurse education today 2024-08, Vol.139, p.106258, Article 106258
• Main Authors: Visier-Alfonso, Ma Eugenia, Sarabia-Cobo, Carmen, Cobo-Cuenca, Ana Isabel, Nieto-López, Marta, López-Honrubia, Rigoberto, Bartolomé-Gutiérrez, Raquel, Alconero-Camarero, Ana Rosa, González-López, José Rafael
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Anxiety - psychology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression - psychology; Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; Female; Humans; Male; Mental Health; Nursing students; Protective Factors; Psychological well-being; Resilience; Resilience, Psychological; Spain; Stress; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Students, Nursing - psychology; Students, Nursing - statistics & numerical data; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0260-6917; 1532-2793; 1532-2793
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nedt.2024.106258

Nursing students suffer high levels of stress, especially in the first year. to compare academic stress at the beginning and end of nursing studies; to analyse the relationships between academic stress, mental health, and protective factors; and to examine whether resilience mitigates the effect of academic stress on psychological well-being. A cross-sectional study. Sample was 370 first- and fourth-year nursing students from Spain (University of Castilla-La Mancha, University of Cantabria, and University of Sevilla). We assessed academic and clinical stress, coping skills, anxiety, depression, psychological well-being, and resilience were measured. We performed a descriptive analysis of the study sample, as well as correlation and hierarchical regression models. Additionally, mediation models were estimated. First-year students presented higher academic stress than fourth-year students. Clinical stress, anxiety, depression, and emotional coping predicted academic stress, while academic stress, depression, and coping skills predicted psychological well-being. Mediation models showed a significant path between academic stress, resilience, depression, and psychological well-being. Academic stress has a detrimental effect on the mental health. Coping strategies and resilience may be protective factors that should be encouraged in interventions designed to improve psychological well-being. •Stress is a common experience during nursing education.•First-year students presented higher academic stress than fourth-year students.•Clinical stress, anxiety, depression, and emotional coping predicts academic stress.•Academic stress, depression, and coping skills predicts well-being.•Resilience and coping strategies are protective factors that might mitigate the effects of academic stress.