Academic stress, COVID‐19 anxiety, and quality of life among nursing students: The mediating role of resilience

Abstract

Aim This study investigated the mediating role of resilience in the relationship between academic stress, COVID‐19 anxiety, and quality of life (QoL) among Filipino nursing students during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Background The COVID‐19 pandemic has impacted the QoL of nursing students who are experiencing mental health issues. The mediating role of resilience in mitigating the effects of academic stress and COVID‐19 anxiety on nursing students’ QoL remains understudied. Methods This study employed a correlational cross‐sectional design, with a convenience sample of 611 Filipino nursing students. Data were collected using the scales Connor and Davidson Resilience, Brunnsviken Brief Quality of Life, COVID‐19 Anxiety, and Perception of Academic Stress and analyzed using Pearson's r , bivariate analysis, and multistage regression analyses. Results Academic stress and COVID‐19 anxiety negatively correlated with QoL and resilience. Resilience was positively associated with QoL and reduced the effect of academic stress on QoL, indicating that resilience is a crucial mediating variable between academic stress and QoL. Finally, resilience had a significant mediating influence on QoL, as evidenced by a reduction in the effect of COVID‐19 anxiety on QoL among nursing students. Conclusions Filipino nursing students' QoL was affected by academic stress and COVID‐19–related anxiety. However, resilience mediated this impact, preserving QoL. Implications for nursing and health policy Nursing colleges and affiliated hospitals must collaborate to monitor academic stress and pandemic‐related anxiety. Nursing students should be provided with programs such as seminars and team‐building activities to enhance their resilience.

Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected nursing students’ career self-efficacy and professional calling? The mediating impact of professional identity

“…Hence, we should guide nursing students to fully reflect and understand the nursing profession. Nursing students with high resilience may be less likely to perceive the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic [48,61] and more likely to develop positive perceptions and evaluations of the nursing profession, hereby enhancing PI [62]. Therefore, it is necessary to integrate resilience training into nursing humanistic curricula [63,64].…”

“…Therefore, it is necessary to integrate resilience training into nursing humanistic curricula [63,64]. And among nursing students, resilience training can be achieved through the support of influencers [61]. Nursing students' professional identities are shaped by exposure to role models in the profession.…”

Predictors and correlates of Saudi nursing students' grit and positive thinking amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Supporting our findings, Korean nursing students demonstrated that when relevant positive psychology programs are included in the curriculum, positive thinking stimulates more optimism and produces a positive life experience throughout nursing studies, regardless of gender ( Çelik & Sarıçam, 2018 ; Han et al, 2020 ). Nursing students at several nursing schools worldwide face various psychosocial challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitating curriculum changes to address their students' mental health needs ( Agu et al, 2021 ; Berdida & Grande, 2022a ).…”

“…Academic stress and burnout affect nursing students' learning behaviors and outcomes ( Berdida & Grande, 2022a ; Olvera Alvarez et al, 2019 ). If not addressed adequately and appropriately, this will have a detrimental effect on their learning.…”

“…If not addressed adequately and appropriately, this will have a detrimental effect on their learning. However, little is known about nursing students' resilience and ability to think positively in the face of academic stress and challenges, particularly during this pandemic ( Berdida & Grande, 2022a ; Berdida & Grande, 2022b ). Nursing students, more than ever, need to embody protective traits such as tenacity and positive thinking to sustain their mental health and success in their studies during a pandemic the world has never witnessed, at least in the previous century.…”