Mental health status and stressful life events among postgraduate nursing students in Cyprus: a cross-sectional descriptive correlational study

Abstract

Background Despite prior evidence supporting the association between stressful life events and mental health status, there are limited data on the number and severity of stressful life events and their effects on university students’ mental health status. Therefore, the present study aimed to: (a) examine mental health status and subsequent predictors of clinically significant mental distress symptoms, (b) estimate the number and severity of stressful life events, and (c) explore the associations between mental health status, stressful life events (number and severity) and sociodemographic characteristics. Methods This study was descriptive, cross-sectional, and correlational with internal comparisons. A convenience sample of 90 Master of Science in nursing and midwifery students, participated in the study. Participants with a General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) total score ≥ 24 were considered to have clinically significant mental distress symptoms. Descriptive and inferential statistics were evaluated, and Pearson’s chi-square test for group differences was used to analyse the data. Analysis of variance and t-tests were used for comparisons between two or more groups, and regression analyses were employed to identify the predictors of GHQ-28 scores and clinical mental distress symptoms. Results The final sample comprised 90 students (response rate: 97.8%), 33 (36.7%) of whom reported clinically significant symptoms of mental distress. Students with divorced parents [29.92 (± 10.62), p < .05] scored high on the GHQ-28. Participants who had low/no satisfaction with the education system posted higher scores than participants who had high/very high satisfaction [24.82 (± 11.68) vs. 17.93 (± 9.78), p < .05]. In the subscale measuring depressive symptoms, there was a statistically significant gender difference, with men reporting higher scores than females. [3.0± (3.69) vs. 1.60 (± 2.42), p = .034]. In multiple analyses of sociodemographic characteristics and those who scored higher on the Life Events Scale for Students (LESS) scale (≥ 340), the loss of parent/s was associated with the total GHQ-28 score (B=-17.046, p < .001). In multiple analyses, chronic physical disorders or disabilities and numerous stressful life events among students (≥ 8 events) were correlated with higher overall GHQ-28 scores (B = 15.232, p < .005). Conclusion The high frequency of clinical symptoms of mental distress among postgraduate university nursing students and their correlation with stressful life events highlights the need for university counselling services to provide psychological support strategies to students.

Effectiveness of Positive Psychology on Self-Control and Resilience in Nursing Assistants

“…Nurses and, by extension, nursing assistants can maintain their psychological health and demonstrate appropriate psychological adaptation to patients and the environment by leveraging their resilience capacities in adverse therapeutic situations and professional care services (Hudgins, 2016;Karami et al, 2017). Additionally, nurses and nursing assistants can achieve psychological well-being and satisfaction with their life and profession by utilizing their resilience capacity to endure and improve their tolerance and service delivery (Deng et al, 2023;Moghadari Koosha et al, 2022;Sadri Damirchi et al, 2018;Sokratous et al, 2023). Similar to self-control, research evidence shows a relationship between positive, spiritual, ethical, and religious constructs and resilience (Abedini & Joibari, 2023;Bababkhani, 2020;Babakhani, 2020;Doebel, 2020;Galla & Duckworth, 2015;Ghorbani Amir et al, 2023;Hagger et al, 2010;Mesbahi et al, 2020;Sinha, 2018).…”

Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Psychological Distress Syndromes, Rumination, and Self-Compassion in Students with Psychological Distress

“…Undoubtedly, mental health plays a significant role in ensuring the dynamism and efficiency of any society. Since students are among the susceptible, elite members of society and the builders of the future of every country, their mental health is of particular importance in learning and increasing scientific awareness (Sokratous et al, 2023). On the other hand, some students may face crises during their academic lives, including financial crisis, mismatch between their field of study and their interests, cultural problems due to being in different cities (place of study), emotional issues, failing in certain courses, and other academic and ethical issues, which have a destructive role in their academic quality and the creation of psychological well-being challenges (Mechraoui, 2023;Moreno-Agostino et al, 2023), leading them to experience psychological distress.…”

Compilation of the Causal Model of Self-Care Behaviors Based on Life Events and Perceived Social Support with the Mediation of Psychological Distress in Women and ,en with Type 2 Diabetes

“…Any significant change in life can potentially initiate a period of stress and psychological pressure, reducing individual focus on self and exacerbating symptoms of existing diseases or leading to new physical and mental illnesses. Stress from life events also impacts mental health and physical well-being, subsequently influencing self-care behaviors (Sokratous et al, 2023). A study indicates that life events, along with variables like gender and disease duration, are significant predictors of self-care behaviors in diabetic individuals (Shrestha et al, 2021).…”

“…Another study's findings suggest that experiencing stressful life events and how one interacts and adapts to them, as a practical experience, can lead to the continuation or discontinuation of daily self-care behaviors (Umeda et al, 2020;Zarbakhsh et al, 2021). It seems that diabetic individuals' tolerance of stressful life events, considering their conditions in terms of disease adaptation and selfmanagement efforts, may not align with their capabilities, leading to psychological conflict and struggle (Sokratous et al, 2023).…”