Stress Coping Strategies Among Undergraduate Nursing Students in The University of Nigeria Enugu Campus

Abstract

Background: Undergraduate student nurses experience stress due to the demanding nature of their training. Therefore, assessing stress and coping strategies in this vulnerable group is essential. Moreover, a paucity of data exists on this subject among the study population. Aim: This study assessed the stress level, common stressors, and coping strategies adopted by undergraduate student nurses at the Department of Nursing, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus. Methods and Materials: This study used the cross-sectional descriptive survey design. A proportionate sample method was utilized to select 196 undergraduate nursing students. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Coping Behaviour Inventory (CBI) were used for data collection. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 was used to analyze the data using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The results showed that the majority of respondents (71.8%) reported feeling moderately stressed. Assignment/workload stress (2.46±0.90), stress from teachers and nursing staff (1.92±0.79), and stress from peers and daily life (1.96±0.92) were the three main stressors. Problem-solving (2.84±0.95), transference (2.54±0.95), and positive coping behavior (2.52±0.88) were the most frequently employed coping mechanisms. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the students' demographic characteristics and their stress levels. Conclusion: The respondents reported moderate stress levels that were comparable between the different groups. Therefore, administrators of the nursing department should incorporate stress management and reduction techniques into the orientation program and motivate students to use healthy coping mechanisms that emphasize problem-solving to promote health. Keywords: stress, coping strategies, undergraduate nursing students, stressor, level of stress