Psychological Stress and Coping Strategies among Nursing Students during the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

Khin Thandar Aung; Noor Atikah Mat Ail

doi:10.33102/mjosht.v11i1.433

Authors

Khin Thandar Aung Critical Care Nursing Department, Kulliyyah of Nursing, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), 53100 Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Malaysia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7569-7565
Noor Atikah Mat Ail Critical Care Nursing Department, Kulliyyah of Nursing, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), 53100 Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Malaysia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33102/mjosht.v11i1.433

Keywords:

psychological stress, coping strategies, nursing students, Covid-19, pandemic

Abstract

Nursing students encountered distinctive obstacles during their academic careers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. An increase in mental health concerns was the consequence of the pandemic, which necessitated numerous modifications to their daily routines. Subsequently, students have implemented distinct stress-management strategies that are contingent upon their individual perspectives. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the psychological stress levels and coping strategies employed by nursing students during this time. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional investigation was implemented online. The data were gathered through online surveys, which encompassed assessments of stress perception and coping strategies. The survey was divided into three sections: Part A collected demographic data, Part B employed the Perceived Stress Scale(PSS), and Part C employed the Coping Strategies Scale. Results: The study included a total of 220 respondents, who were between the ages of 18 and 25. Among undergraduate students, Year 4 had the maximum representation (35%), followed by Year 1 (22.2%), Years 2 and 3 (21.4%), and so forth. Moderate worry was reported by the majority of students (70.9%). The mean (±SD) score on the Perceived Stress Scale was 20.54 (±6.062), and the mean (±SD) score on the Coping Strategies Scale was 39.47 (±5.848). Conclusion: The study did not identify any correlation or impact between the perceived stress scale, coping strategies, or any of the sociodemographic factors among nursing students. The examination of these factors will enhance comprehension of the mental health obstacles encountered by nursing students during the pandemic. This information can guide the development of targeted interventions by healthcare providers and educational institutions, including stress management workshops, enhanced access to mental health resources, and modifications to curriculum delivery to more effectively support student well-being during future crises.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Debowska, Agata, Beata Horeczy, Daniel Boduszek, and Dariusz Dolinski. “A Repeated Cross-Sectional Survey Assessing University Students’ Stress, Depression, Anxiety, and Suicidality in the Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland.” Psychological Medicine 52, no. 15 (2022): 3744–47. doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/S003329172000392X.

Islam, M. A., S. D. Barna, H. Raihan, M. N. A. Khan, and M. T. Hossain. "Depression and Anxiety Among University Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Bangladesh: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Survey." PLoS ONE 15, no. 8 (2020): e0238162. doi:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0238162.

Enns, Ashley, Glen D. Eldridge, Catherine Montgomery, and Vivian M. Gonzalez. "Perceived Stress, Coping Strategies, and Emotional Intelligence: A Cross-Sectional Study of University Students in Helping Disciplines." Nurse Education Today 68, (2018): 226–231. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2018.06.012.

Foster, S., N. Estévez-Lamorte, S. Walitza, and M. Schmid. "Perceived Stress, Coping Strategies, and Mental Health Status Among Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Switzerland: A Longitudinal Study." European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 32, no. 6 (2023): 937–949. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-022-02119-y.

Preti, Enrico, Vincenzo Mattei, Giulia Perego, Francesco Ferrari, Massimo Mazzetti, Paolo Taranto, Roberto Pierro, Francesco Madeddu, and Raffaella Calati. "The Psychological Impact of Epidemic and Pandemic Outbreaks on Healthcare Workers: Rapid Review of the Evidence." Current Psychiatry Reports 22, no 43 (2020). doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-020-01166-z.

Chigwedere, Ottilia, Abdul Sadath, Zubair Kabir, and Ella Arensman. "The Impact of Epidemics and Pandemics on the Mental Health of Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no 13 (2021). doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18136695.

Aslan, H., & Pekince, H. “Nursing students' views on the COVID-19 pandemic and their perceived stress levels”. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care 57, no 2 (2020): 695-701. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/ppc.12597.

Cao, W., Fang, Z., Hou, G., Han, M., Xu, X., Dong, J., & Zheng, J. “The psychological impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on college students in China”. Psychiatry Research 287, (2020): 112934 - 112934. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112934.

Ahmed, W.A., Abdulla, Y.H., Alkhadher, M.A., & Alshameri, F.A. “Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies among Nursing Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review”. Saudi Journal of Health Systems Research 2, (2022): 85 - 93. doi: https://doi.org/10.1159/000526061.

Majrashi, A., Khalil, A., Nagshabandi, E.A., & Majrashi, A. “Stressors and Coping Strategies among Nursing Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Scoping Review”. Nursing Reports 11, (2021): 444 - 459. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep11020042.

Tambunan, E.H., & Sinaga, R.R. “Stress levels and coping strategy of nursing students in online learning during COVID-19 Pandemic. A mixed-methods study”. Investigacion y Educacion en Enfermeria 41. (2023). doi: https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.iee.v41n2e09.

Hamadi, H.Y., Zakari, N.M., Jibreel, E., AL Nami, F.N., Smida, J., & Ben Haddad, H. “Stress and Coping Strategies among Nursing Students in Clinical Practice during COVID-19”. Nursing Reports 11, (2021): 629 - 639. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep11030060.

Duan, L., Shao, X., Wang, Y., Huang, Y., Miao, J., Yang, X., & Zhu, G. “An investigation of mental health status of children and adolescents in china during the outbreak of COVID-19”. Journal of Affective Disorders 275, (2020): 112 - 118. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.06.029.

Sheroun, D., Wankhar, D. D., & Devrani, A. “A study to assess the perceived stress and coping strategies among BSc nursing students at selected colleges in Pune during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown”. International Journal of Science and Healthcare Research 5, no 2 (2020): 280-288.

Awoke, M., Mamo, G., Abdu, S., & Terefe, B. “Perceived stress and coping strategies among undergraduate health science students at Jimma University amid the COVID-19 outbreak: Online cross-sectional survey”. Frontiers in Psychology 12, no 639955 (2021): doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.639955

Dasgupta, A., Podder, D., Paul, B., Bandyopadhyay, L., Mandal, S., Pal, A., & Mandal, M. “Perceived Stress and Coping Behavior among Future Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study in West Bengal, India”. Indian journal of community medicine: official publication of Indian Association of Preventive & Social Medicine 45, no. 2 (2020): 204–208. doi: https://doi.org/10.4103/ijcm.IJCM_200_19

Pedrozo-Pupo, J. C., Pedrozo-Cortés, M. J., & Campo-Arias, A. “Perceived stress associated with COVID-19 epidemics in Colombia: an online survey”. Cadernos de saude publica 36, no 5 (2020): e00090520. doi: https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311x00090520.

Cao, W., Fang, Z., Hou, G., Han, M., Xu, X., Dong, J., & Zheng, J. “The psychological impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on college students in China”. Psychiatry Research 287, (2020): 112934 - 112934. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112934.

Elinar, P. “Assess the Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies among GNM Student of Selected College of Nursing Bhubaneswar during Covid -19 Pandemic Lockdown”. International Journal of Medical Science and Clinical Research Studies 2, no 6 (2022): 593–598. doi: https://doi.org/10.47191/ijmscrs/v2-i6-25.

Teh, B., Ang, J., Koh, E., & Pang, N. “Psychological Resilience and Coping Strategies with Anxiety among Malaysian Medical Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic”. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20, no 3 (2023): 1894. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031894.