Sense of Coherence and Perceived Academic Stress Among Nursing Students: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Nursing students face significant academic and emotional challenges impacting mental health and performance.
• A salutogenic perspective highlights the sense of coherence (SOC) as crucial for stress management and resilience.
• Understanding SOC in nursing students is vital for developing supportive educational strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess sense of coherence (SOC) levels in undergraduate nursing students.
• To investigate the relationship between SOC, perceived academic stress, and sociodemographic factors.
• To identify potential protective factors for nursing student well-being.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter, cross-sectional study involving 1301 nursing students from Spain and Chile.
• Utilized the Orientation to Life Questionnaire to measure SOC and its components.
• Collected sociodemographic data and perceived academic stress levels related to various academic activities.

Main Results:

• Mean SOC score was 62.65; no significant differences were found between universities.
• Higher SOC was associated with older age (≥29 years), being married, and working.
• Increased perceived academic stress (lectures, clinicals, assignments) correlated with lower SOC.

Conclusions:

• A robust sense of coherence (SOC) is linked to reduced perceived academic stress and specific sociodemographic profiles in nursing students.
• Findings support the integration of salutogenic principles into nursing curricula.
• Strengthening SOC can foster mental well-being and academic resilience among nursing students.