Perceived Stressors and Coping Patterns among Nursing Students during Covid -19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background: Nursing students are exposed to numerous stressors during their studies and clinical training, especially during COVID-19, because of direct contact with patients, so they need to cope with the stressors. Aim: This study aimed to assess perceived stressors and coping patterns among nursing students during Covid -19 pandemic. Design: An explanatory descriptive research design was utilized in this study. Sampling: A convenient sample of 249 fourth-year nursing students agreed to participate in this study. Setting: The study was conducted at the faculty of nursing at Beni-suef University. Tools of data collection: Three tools were used in this study: ( 1) A socio-demographic interviewing questionnaire, (2) Perceived stress scale to examine nursing students’ stress levels and types of stressors, (3) The coping scale to measure coping patterns among nursing students. Results: Findings of this study showed that more than two-thirds of nursing students had suffered from stress and could not adapt well to stressors during COVID-19. As well as less than half of nursing students used problem-focused patterns to deal with stress during the covid-19 pandemic with the highest score among coping subscales. There was a negative moderate correlation between perceived stress scale and coping scale for stressful situations among nursing students. Conclusion: More than two-thirds of nursing students suffered from stress during COVID-19 pandemic. There was a negative moderate correlation between perceived stress and coping with stressful situations among nursing students. Recommendation: Establishing student counseling centers within campus with the help of mental health professionals to provide counseling services and psychological support for nursing students.