Prevalence of Anxiety and Associated Factors Among Nursing Students in Pokhara Metropolitan: A Cross-Sectional Study

The nursing years are regarded as a high-risk stage for the onset of several mental diseases since this period is stressful and hectic, and the majority of lifetime mental disorders start at this young age. Despite the high psychological burden among nursing students, evidence on the prevalence of anxiety and its associated factors in Pokhara Metropolitan remains limited. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anxiety and factors associated with anxiety among nursing students.

A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2024 to August 2024 among 358 students of PCL nursing students in Pokhara Metropolitan using the Beck Anxiety Inventory to assess anxiety levels. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire, including socio-demographic variables and validated anxiety scales, and ethical approval was obtained from PU-IRC. The Chi-square test was used for analytical statistics to examine the association between dependent and independent variables.

61.7% of the participants had low levels of anxiety, 25.7% had moderate and 12.6% had severe levels of anxiety. Family's monthly income (p = 0.006) and academic pressure (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with anxiety.

The study concluded nursing students reported varying levels of anxiety depending on factors such as family income, academic pressure, and lifestyle conditions. The findings highlight the need for comprehensive mental health interventions to reduce anxiety, colleges and universities should create a better learning environment by, reducing burdens, promoting practical learning, and managing pressure effectively.