The mediatory role of sense of coherence for mindfulness and stress response among nursing students in Japan: A cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Background Nursing students experience high levels of stress. Previous studies on nursing students have explored the relationship between mindfulness and stress response, sense of coherence (SOC) and stress response, and mindfulness and SOC. However, whether SOC affects the relationship between mindfulness and stress response is yet to be explored. This study aimed to clarify how SOC affects the relationship between mindfulness and stress response in Japanese nursing students. The results of this study will be useful in considering appropriate mental health interventions for nursing students in the future. Methods An anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, SOC Scale, and Perceived Stress Scale was conducted, which yielded 130 (74.7%) valid responses. Subsequently, a mediation analysis was performed with stress response as the dependent variable, mindfulness as the independent variable, and SOC as the mediator. Results Spearman’s correlation analysis was used to analyze the data and revealed a statistically significant correlation between mindfulness and SOC, mindfulness and stress response, and SOC and stress response. Mediation analysis showed that: the direct effect of mindfulness on stress responses was significant (β = − .40; p < .001). However, the direct effect of mindfulness on stress responses was not significant when SOC was included as a mediator. The bootstrap method was conducted, and the results revealed that the indirect effect of mindfulness on SOC-mediated stress responses was significant (β = − .38; 95% CI = − .47 to − .29, p = .01). Conclusions SOC mediated the relationship between mindfulness and stress responses. Improving SOC is necessary to reduce stress responses in nursing students. Additionally, mindfulness should be increased to improve SOC. Future studies should explore enhancing the nursing curricula with mindfulness and SOC training.