Stress Resilience among Undergraduate Nursing Students
Ani Ann Koshy1, Beena Abraham2, Sindhu C Philip3, Blessy Peter4
1Fourth Year B Sc. Nursing, TMM College of Nursing, Anjilithanum P O, Kaviyoor.
2Associate Professor, Community Health Nursing, TMM College of Nursing, Anjilithanum P O, Kaviyoor.
3HOD, Medical Surgical Nursing, TMM College of Nursing, Anjilithanum P O, Kaviyoor.
4Principal TMM College of Nursing, TMM College of Nursing, Anjilithanum P O, Kaviyoor.
*Corresponding Author Email: aniannofficial@gmail.com
ABSTRACT:
Nursing profession is the perfect blend of sacrifice and satisfaction. The overall career field of nursing provides stability and job security, both highly attractive to nursing graduates. Given the benefits, nursing is a profession that remains highly demanding and stressful. In comparison to the early days of nursing, we see that there exists a very strong competitive mind-set among the nursing students; each in strong pursuit of achieving excellence. In all these situations resilience is the force that helps the students to get back on their feet and press ahead. The study aimed to assess stress resilience among undergraduate nursing students. Cross-sectional descriptive design is used in the study. A sample size of 110 undergraduate nursing students of semester and year-based systems was selected using convenient sampling technique. A structured demographic questionnaire and a standardized 14-item resilience scale was used to measure the level of stress resilience. The data was analysed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study revealed that more than half, 63.64% of students have a high resilience tendency with a mean of 73.46 and standard deviation of 10.61. It is observed by the study that there is significant association between the level of stress resilience and the demographic variable; most recent exam result. The study revealed that nursing students have a high resilience tendency, which is significant for the empowerment of each nursing student.
KEYWORDS: Stress Resilience, Undergraduate, Nursing students.
INTRODUCTION:
Nursing profession is the perfect blend of sacrifice and satisfaction. The overall career field of nursing provides stability and job security, both highly attractive to nursing graduates. Given the benefits, nursing is a profession that remains highly demanding and stressful. Undergraduates in nursing are often suddenly exposed to uncompromising situations and they find themselves crushed under the cumbersome load of theoretical and practical necessities of the curriculum.
The stress can catalyze a deleterious effect on all aspects of the students. In all these situations resilience is the force that helps the students to get back on their feet and press ahead. For nursing students, resilience is conceptualized as a process of cumulative success in overcoming adversity, which enhances personal well-being.
In comparison to the early days of nursing, we see that there exists a very strong competitive mind-set among the nursing students; each in a strong pursuit of achieving excellence. The realization that every nurse has to be highly skilled and that nothing short of mastery alone helps them to reach heights, adds to the burden. Recent studies have unfolded that a significant level of 62.5%1 (Mushtaq Bushra et.al, 2021) of stress levels are prevalent among nursing students. Another study suggests that about 77-82%2 (Das Biranchi et.al, 2021) of students are weighed down by anxiety and depression due to stress from lack of leisure time and difficulty in academics.
A descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in Nepal, 2018 determined the prevalence of stress, anxiety and depression among nursing students and examined its relationship with coping styles. Results among 680 participants enrolled in nine colleges showed that, 51% of students had moderate to extremely severe levels of stress, anxiety, and depression3 (Samson. P, 2019).
Resilience is the strength and vitality required for sustained physical or mental activity. It has an impact on learning experience, academic performance, course completion and, in the long term, professional practice in the life of a student nurse. Resilience varies from student to student and is a cardinal caliber to be exhibited. It is an outward expression of how strong and empowered the student is to withstand and adapt themselves to the obstacles they face during the completion of the course and for a successful career. And in this view, the researcher aimed to assess the stress resilience among undergraduate students of selected nursing colleges.
A cross-sectional study to assess stress resilience among undergraduate students of TMM College of Nursing, Kaviyoor.
To assess the level of stress resilience among undergraduate nursing students using the resilience scale. To find the association between the level of stress resilience and selected demographic variables.
Stress Resilience:
It is the ability of the undergraduate nursing students to adapt successfully to stress and anxiety response that is inevitable for the completion of the course.
Undergraduates:
Undergraduate nurse is a student who is currently studying bachelor of science in nursing course in an affiliated college under the university.
H1: There is a significant association between level of stress resilience and selected demographic variables among undergraduate nursing students.
Research methodology involves the way of obtaining, organizing and analyzing data.
Quantitative approach is used to assess stress resilience among undergraduate students.
Cross-sectional descriptive design is used to assess the stress resilience among undergraduate nursing students.
The level of stress resilience among undergraduate nursing students.
TMM College of Nursing ,Kaviyoor.
All undergraduate students studying in nursing colleges, in Kerala.
A sample size of 110 undergraduate nursing students of semester and year-based systems was selected using convenient sampling technique.
Students who are willing to participate.
BSc nursing students studying in semester and year based curriculum. Students who had appeared for University examinations.
The tool used in the present study consists of two sections:
SECTION A:
A structured demographic questionnaire assessing age, gender, year of study, Previous knowledge about the course, most recent exam result, exercise, diet and sleep pattern.
SECTION B:
A standardized 14 -item resilience scale (Wagnild, 2009) was used to measure the level of stress resilience. It consists of 14 items reflecting equanimity, perseverance, self-reliance, meaningfulness and a sense of uniqueness. Participants respond by agreeing or disagreeing with the statements on a scale of 1(strongly disagree) to 7(strongly agree).
RESILIENCE TENDENCY SCORES KEY:
Very high resilience: 82- 98
High resilience: 64-81
Average resilience: 49-63
Low resilience: 31-48
Very low resilience: 14-30
ETHICAL PERMISSION:
Ethical clearance was obtained from college authority and consent was taken from the students.
The pilot study was conducted on 09/08/2023 among 11 undergraduate students of TMM College of Nursing, Kaviyoor. The informed consent was obtained and the samples who fulfilled the inclusion criteria completed the questionnaire via google form.
The data was collected from 110 samples via Google form on 10/08/23.
The data collected was analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics.
The data were analyzed based on the objectives of the study under the following sections.
Table1: Frequency and Percentage distribution of samples based on demographic variables N=110
|
Sl. No |
Demographic variables |
f |
% |
|
1. |
Age (in years) |
|
|
|
18-20 |
41 |
37.28 |
|
|
21-23 |
69 |
62.72 |
|
|
2. |
Gender |
|
|
|
Male |
9 |
8.2 |
|
|
Female |
101 |
91.8 |
|
|
3. |
Year of Study |
|
|
|
Second Semester |
17 |
15.5 |
|
|
Third Semester |
24 |
21.8 |
|
|
Third year |
34 |
30.9 |
|
|
Fourth year |
35 |
31.8 |
|
|
4. |
Relative who is pursuing nursing or is a nurse |
|
|
|
Yes |
86 |
78.18 |
|
|
No |
24 |
21.82 |
|
|
5. |
Most Recent Exam Result |
|
|
|
Passed |
104 |
94.55 |
|
|
Failed |
6 |
5.45 |
|
|
6. |
Regular meals a day |
|
|
|
Yes |
88 |
80 |
|
|
No |
22 |
20 |
|
|
7. |
Regular exercise pattern |
|
|
|
Yes |
27 |
24.55 |
|
|
No |
83 |
75.45 |
|
|
8. |
Regular sleep pattern |
|
|
|
Yes |
59 |
53.64 |
|
|
No |
51 |
46.36 |
Data presented in table1 shows that out of 110 samples, 69 (62.72%) were in the age group of 21-23 years, majority (91.8%) were females,31.8% were from fourth year of study. Majority of students 86 (78.18%) had their relatives pursuing nursing profession, 94.55% had passed their recent exam, Majority (80%) had regular meals a day, 53.64% showed a regular sleep pattern and majority 75.45% are not following a regular exercise pattern.
Table2: Frequency and percentage distribution of samples based on level of stress resilience using Resilience scale N=110
|
Level of Stress Resilience |
Score Key |
f |
% |
Mean |
Median |
SD |
|
Very High |
82-98 |
23 |
20.90 |
|
|
|
|
High |
64-81 |
70 |
63.64 |
73.46 |
73.27 |
10.61 |
|
Average |
49-63 |
16 |
14.55 |
|
|
|
|
Low |
31-48 |
1 |
0.91 |
|
|
|
|
Very Low |
14-30 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
The above table shows that more than half, 63.64% of students have a high resilience tendency with a mean of 73.46 and standard deviation of 10.61.
N=110
Figure 1: Percentage distribution of level of stress resilience among undergraduate nursing students.
The above figure shows that the year-based students have high resilience than semester based students.
The present study aims to assess the stress resilience among undergraduate nursing students. Among 110 samples, 69 (62.72%) were in the age group of 21-23 years, majority (91.8%) were females, 31.8% were from fourth year of study. Majority of students 86 (78.18%) had their relatives pursuing nursing profession, 94.55% had passed their recent exam, Majority (80%) had regular meals a day, 53.64% showed a regular sleep pattern and majority 75.45% were not following a regular exercise pattern. The data showed that 63.64% of students have a high resilience tendency with a mean of 73.46 and standard deviation of 10.61. The study revealed that there is significant association between the level of stress resilience and the demographic variables (most recent exam result) (χ2 =8.218,p=7.81).
A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021 to assess resilience as a protective factor on the quality of life among 268 nursing students under three universities in South India during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings revealed that the participants has moderate resilience and there is a significant difference in the impact of COVID-19 on the quality of life with year of education(F=3.087;p<0.02).The study highlights the importance to promote students resilience and improve their quality of life during stressful situations4 (Vijayalakshmi. P et al, 2023).
A similar study can be done in a different setting with different tools.
A study can be done using various interventional strategies to enhance the stress resilience. A similar study can be conducted with different aspects of empowerment.
The study cannot be generalized due to the sample size. The time duration for the study was limited.
Nursing students are prone to various stressors during the completion of course. The resilience is the adaptability of the students to motivate themselves and become empowered to be successful in the nursing profession. The study revealed that 63.64% nursing students have a high resilience tendency, which is significant for the empowerment of each nursing student.
1. Mushtaq Bushra, Mir Javaid Ahmad, Mushtaq Onaisa. (2021). Stress Level Among Nursing Students. 10.13140/RG.2.2.15934.82248/1.
2. Das Biranchi, Mohandas Anu, Syed Saba. Study of stress, anxiety, depression and coping strategies among nursing students in a tertiary care teaching hospital, South India. International Journal of Community Medicine And Public Health. 2021; 8: 3400. 10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20212594.
3. Samson P. Role of Coping in Stress, Anxiety, Depression among Nursing Students of Purbanchal University in Kathmandu. J Nepal Health Res Counc. 2019; Nov 13; 17(3): 325-330. doi:10.33314/jnhrc.v17i3.1843. PMID: 31735926.
4. Vijayalakshmi P., Kathyayani B. V., Sreelatha M., Reddy S., Manjunatha N., Naveen Kumar C., BadaMath, S. Resilience as a protective factor on the quality of life (QoL) of Indian nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing. 2023; 42: 55–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2022.12.009
Received on 12.01.2024 Modified on 02.03.2024
Accepted on 05.04.2024 ©A&V Publications All right reserved
Asian J. Nursing Education and Research. 2024; 14(2):145-148.
DOI: 10.52711/2349-2996.2024.00029