Effects of Using the Adaptation Enhancing Program on Depressive Symptoms among Nursing Students

Abstract

Nursing Students need to cope with several aspects affecting their mental health issues, especially depressive symptoms. Therefore, providing them the adaptation enhancing program could reduce depressive symptoms among nursing students. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to examine effects of using the adaptation enhancing program on depressive symptoms among nursing students at Boromarajonani College of Nursing, Phra-phutthabat (BCNPB). Samples were 36 first year nursing students. Eighteen nursing students were randomly selected in the experimental group participating in the adaptation enhancing program. There were 6 weeks of 60-90 minutes session per week. Whereas, other 18 nursing students in the control group participating in the standard-college program. The CES-D inventory was used to collect data at pre-post test and one month follow-up. Reliability was 0.82. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test, two-way repeated measures ANOVA, and multiple comparisons by bonferroni were employed to analyze the data.

The results of this study were as follows:

1. After completion of the adaptation enhancing program, participants in the experimental group had significantly lower mean scores of depressive symptoms than the control group at the post-test (p < .01) and 1 month follow-up period (p < .001).
2. In the experimental group, mean scores of depressive symptoms at pre-test, post-test and 1 month follow-up were significantly different (p < .001).

From the study results, it showed that this adaptation enhancing program could decrease depression among first year students. Therefore, nursing instructors could apply this program in order to reduce depressive symptoms among nursing students in other institutes.