Investigating Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of Nursing Students During Remote Learning: An Experience from Dong A University, Vietnam

A mixed methods study of wellbeing and resilience of undergraduate nursing students: implications for the post-pandemic era

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic and rapid shift to online learning have had ongoing impacts on nursing students' wellbeing and resilience. We are yet to fully understand the implications for this emerging workforce in the post-pandemic era. The aims of this mixed methods study were to investigate wellbeing, coping and resilience of undergraduate nursing students in the pandemic; explore relationships between these variables and investigate predictors of wellbeing and coping, including differences between domestic and international students; explore how students experienced and managed adversity; understand how their mental distress and wellbeing were influenced by resilience resources used to deal with adversity, and identify implications for nurse wellbeing as they enter the workforce in the post-pandemic era.

METHODS

A convergent mixed methods design was used. An online survey investigated wellbeing (COMPAS-W), psychological distress (DASS-21), coping (Brief COPE) and resilience (ARM-R) was completed by n = 175 undergraduate nursing students. Semi-structured interviews with n = 18 students explored how they navigated challenges. Descriptive, correlational, and regression analyses, and thematic analysis, were conducted. Mixed methods analysis was used to integrate both sets of findings.

RESULTS

Students reported high levels of mental distress, yet also moderate levels of wellbeing and resilience. Key findings included domestic students reporting significantly greater stress than international students, and wellbeing being predicted by lower mental distress and increased problem-focused coping. Students coped with challenges by being proactive, drawing on a range of coping strategies, and seeking technical and emotional support. From a social-ecological resilience perspective, access to and engagement with a range of personal, environmental and relational resources served as protective factors for their wellbeing.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides valuable new insights into protective factors for nurses during a period of extraordinary challenge. In the post-pandemic era, there is a need to strengthen the wellbeing and retention of new graduates now entering the workforce from university. Implementation of targeted strategies to strengthen graduates' peer relationships and sense of belonging at work, and wellbeing and resilience education, are needed. Longitudinal follow-up of graduates' wellbeing is recommended.

Psychological stress and depression symptoms in nursing undergraduates: the chain mediating effect of cognitive reappraisal and ruminate thinking

BACKGROUND

Nursing students exhibit a higher incidence of mental disorders. Studies have identified psychological stress contributes to elevated depression symptoms through reappraisal cognitive in nursing students. However, there is little research exploring the knowledge regarding the role of ruminative thinking in mediating the associations between psychological stress and depression symptoms. Guiding by the non-hemostatic model and cognitive control theory, the study aims to investigate the chained mediation of cognitive reappraisal and ruminate thinking between psychological stress and depression symptoms among nursing undergraduates.

METHODS

A total of 1,220 nursing undergraduates were carried out by stratified sampling from July to December of 2023 via online survey. The investigation adopted the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), Ruminative Response Scale (RRS), and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) to measure the level of psychological stress, cognitive reappraisal, ruminative thinking and depression symptoms, respectively. Pearson's r was utilized to investigate the interrelationships, and the structural equation model (SEM) was used to clarify the mediation effects among the four variables.

RESULTS

The mean total score of CES-D was 21.57 ± 10.79. SEM analysis proved that psychological stress had a direct positive effect on depression symptoms (β = 0.388). accounting for a substantial 51.52% of the total effect. Cognitive reappraisal and ruminate thinking partially mediated the association between psychological stress and depression symptoms (95% CI: 0.094-0.210), and the mediating effect accounted for 48.48% of the total effect.

CONCLUSIONS

Nursing students exhibited a high prevalence of depression, and cognitive reappraisal and ruminate thinking partially mediated the correlations between psychological stress and depression symptoms. Interventions targeting at consolidating cognitive reappraisal and ruminate thinking are imperative for improving depression.

Mental Health of Medical Students After Combating the COVID-19 Epidemic: A Cross-sectional Study in Vietnam

OBJECTIVES

This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of mental health (MH) symptoms and associated factors among medical students who were engaged in combating the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic in 4 provinces/cities of Vietnam.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study with 580 participants was conducted at a medical university in Northern Vietnam. MH was assessed using the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale, which was previously standardized in Vietnam. Data were collected through a structured self-administered questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to examine the association between MH symptoms and relevant factors.

RESULTS

Out of a total of 2703 medical students, 21.5% responded to the questionnaire. Among the 580 respondents, the prevalence rates of depression, anxiety, and stress were 43.3%, 44.0%, and 24.7%, respectively. Factors significantly associated with self-reported depression included being female and having a COVID-19 infection. Similarly, being female and having a COVID-19 infection were significantly associated with self-reported anxiety. Factors associated with self-reported stress included being female, having a personal or family history of MH symptoms, working more than 8 hr/day, and having a COVID-19 infection.

CONCLUSIONS

COVID-19 has adversely impacted the MH of medical students. Our findings are valuable in their potential to motivate universities, MH professionals, and authorities to offer mental healthcare services to this group. Furthermore, there is a pressing need for training courses designed to equip future healthcare workers with the skills to manage crises effectively.

Abrupt Transition to Remote Learning in Nursing Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND

This scoping review aimed to identify the issues faced by nursing students, including those in undergraduate and graduate programs, during the emergency academic learning transition from face-to-face to remote learning at the outset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

METHOD

Five electronic databases were searched for eligible studies, published between January 2020 and May 2023. Studies that focused on remote learning among nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic were eligible for inclusion. Subsequently, the data were extracted and thematically synthesized.

RESULTS

After searching and reviewing the literature, 34 primary and empirical studies were identified. The data synthesis identified six themes, including four weaknesses and two strengths.

CONCLUSION

This review demonstrated that nursing students have endeavored to overcome the situation amid the sudden transition in educational modalities and remained committed to their academic progress. We recommend that a new paradigm of nursing education should be prepared for nursing students and faculties. [J Nurs Educ. 2024;63(2):108-115.].

Factors contributing to depressive symptoms among undergraduate nursing students: A cross-sectional study

AIM

To investigate predictive factors of student's academic year, interest in the field of nursing, stress, self-efficacy, and problem-focused and emotion-focused coping on the depressive symptoms among undergraduate nursing students.

BACKGROUND

As the burden of depression among students has increased worldwide, depressive symptoms have become a standard part of mental health problems in college and university students. Among the various fields of medical sciences, nursing students face more stressors during their study period and are more at risk of suffering depressive symptoms than other students.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional design.

METHODS

A total of 230 undergraduate nursing students from a university in Myanmar were recruited from August to September 2021. The data were collected using standard research instruments, including a Demographic Questionnaire, Student Nurse Stress Index Questionnaire, General Self-efficacy Scale, Brief COPE Inventory, and Center for Epidemiology Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants. Inferential statistics were used to identify the predictive effect of academic year, interest in the field of nursing, stress, self-efficacy, problem-focused coping, and emotion-focused coping on depressive symptoms, using multiple linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

Academic year, interest in the field of nursing, stress, self-efficacy, and problem-focused and emotion-focused coping accounted for 31.5% of the variance of depressive symptoms (F(8, 221) = 12.704, p < .001) with an R² = .315. Stress was the factor that most influenced student's depressive symptoms (β = .407, p < .001). Self-efficacy (β = -.244, p < .001) and emotion-focused coping (β = .199, p < .05) were also critical factors contributing to depressive symptoms among undergraduate nursing students.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study provide insight and knowledge about depressive symptoms and factors that can contribute to depressive symptoms among undergraduate nursing students. Results suggest that nurse educators and community mental health nurses should focus on reducing stress, increasing self-efficacy, and enhancing proper coping strategies among students to prevent depressive symptoms.

Psychological Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Nursing Students: Palestinian Perspective

Introduction

COVID-19 has had an important effect on nursing students, with some having their clinical practice cancelled or suspended and others suffering from the virus.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to assess the psychological status in terms of stress, anxiety, and depression of nursing students during COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

The study was cross-sectional, carried out by a convenience sample of 320 participants of nursing students between May and June 2020. Data collection was performed by "Depression Anxiety Stress-21 Scale" (DASS-21).

Results

The results revealed that 78 (24.3%) of participants reported stress; 121 (37.8%) reported anxiety; and 72 (22.5%) reported depression. Also, grade and socioeconomic status had statistically significant effect on anxiety, stress, and depression. In addition, age had statistically significant effect on depression, place of residence had statistically significant effect on anxiety, and gender had statistically significant effect on stress.

Conclusion

The study confirmed an alarming number of nursing students who experienced anxiety, stress, and depression. This study serves as an evidence concerning nursing students' mental health issues as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.