Philippine E-Journals

Academic Stress and Mental Well-being of Student Nurses Amidst COVID- 19 Pandemic

Mary Ronna Y. Amil | Aira Mae P. Biojon | Dane Angel F. Vocal | Kelly Anne Kyle V. Bruzo

Discipline: counselling, psychotherapy and occupational therapy

 

Abstract:

Academic stress is the response of student’s body to academic related demands that exceed their adaptive capabilities which can affect their physical and mental aspect. This study aims to evaluate the level of academic stress and how it affects their mental well-being during COVID-19 pandemic. Correlations among the independent variable which is the assessing level of academic stress; and dependent variables: attitude towards self, growth and self-actualization, integration, autonomy, reality perception and environmental mastery were gathered among the 212 nursing students of Pamantasan ng Cabuyao. A combination of adapted and self-made questionnaire underwent reliability testing and validation from professionals, it also involved the use of a Likert scale and was composed of Student’s Academic Stress Scale and 6 Criteria of Mental Health. The data obtained were statistically analyzed with the use of percentage, frequency distribution, weighted mean, paired t-test and one way ANOVA. Nursing students turned out to be highly stressed and their autonomy appeared is the most affected. The paired t-test and one way ANOVA revealed that there is a significant relationship between the academic stress and demographic profile while there is no significant difference between mental well-being and demographic profile expect for gender. This study concludes that the respondents are highly stressed and unwell when it comes to their mental well-being. In line with the findings in the level of academic stress, it is recommended that mental health awareness and management should be introduced to improve mental health of the student nurses.