Factors Predicting Mental Health Status among Nursing Students in One Educational Institution

Abstract

Nursing students tend to experience high levels of stress due to the need to adapt to various changes, including pressure from studying in a curriculum that requires high levels of responsibility for themself and their patients. This research a was predictive correlational research aimed at studying the level of mental health conditions and predictive factors of the mental health of nursing students. The sample group consisted of first to fourth year Bachelor of Nursing students at an educational institution. The data were collected during the first semester of the 2023 academic year from a paticipant group totaling 627 stuedents. The research instruments included a personal information questionnaire and a depression anxiety stress scale, which had a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of .87. Data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, Eta coefficients, Pearson’s product moment correlations, and Binary logistic regressions.

The research findings indicated that most of the participants had normal levels of stress (81.50 %), normal levels of anxiety (60.60 %), and normal levels of depression (82.60 %). In addition, it was found that age, grade level, hobbies engages in during free time, family relations, relationships with friends, and academic performance had low correlations with mental health status. Meanwhile, perceptions of current mental health were moderately related to the mental health status of the nursing students. The most significant factor in predicting depression was leisure activity (OR = 2.22, 95% CI = 1.02–4.82). For anxiety and stress, the key predictive factor was age (OR = 2.22, 95% CI = 1.02–4.82 and OR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.57–0.90 respectively). These reults indicate that educational institutions should organize mental health promotion activities, especially to prevent anxiety among nursing students. They should also establish a dedicated unit, or assign academic advisors, within the institution to provide mental health support and counseling for nursing students.