Perceived Stress and Coping Behavior among Future Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study in West Bengal, India

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education Research
• Student Well-being
• Mental Health in Healthcare Training

Background:

• Demanding academic and clinical environments pose significant stress risks for nursing students.
• Ineffective coping strategies can exacerbate stress, potentially impacting future healthcare quality.
• Early intervention is vital to address student stress and its long-term consequences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and origins of perceived stress among undergraduate nursing students.
• To examine the coping behaviors employed by these students in West Bengal.
• To identify factors influencing stress and coping in nursing education.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in West Bengal, involving 182 nursing students.
• Validated questionnaires, including the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Coping Behavior Inventory (CBI), were utilized.
• Statistical analyses, including correlation and multiple regression, were performed to analyze the data.

Main Results:

• "Stress from assignments and workload" was identified as the primary stressor.
• "Problem-solving" emerged as the most common coping behavior.
• Significant correlations were found between perceived stress and coping behavior (r = 0.306, P < 0.01).
• Factors like years of education, self-decision to join nursing, increased screen time, and hostel living predicted stress and coping behaviors.

Conclusions:

• Nursing students face high levels of academic and clinical stress.
• Developing and implementing strategies to mitigate stress and improve coping skills during training is essential.
• Supporting nursing students' mental well-being is critical for a competent future healthcare workforce.