Tímarit hjúkrunarfræðinga - 2022, Side 72

The COVID-19 pandemic has multifaceted effect
on nursing students, including significant changes
made to their studies in the spring of 2020. Major
changes can lead to stress. Stress among nursing
students in the time of COVID-19 has been found to
be moderate to severe.
The aim of the study was to examine nursing
students’ stress and its relationship with support,
own assessment of health and experience related
to their studies. Furthermore, to gather information
about coping strategies used and attitudes towards
changes made to studies during the first wave of
COVID-19.
This was a cross-sectional study. All undergraduate
nursing students at the University of Iceland
(N=545) and University of Akureyri (N=212) were
offered participation. Data was collected in May and
June 2020. Response rate was 33.8%. Descriptive
and inferential statistics were used to analyze the
data. The severity of stress was measured by the
Perceived Stress Scale 10, which has 10 questions
(range: 0-40). A higher score indicates increased
stress. Participants also answered questions about
factors known to affect stress, attitudes towards
changes made to their studies and coping strategies
used.
Most students´ scores indicated moderate
stress, however they experienced high levels of
stress related to studying at the university level.
The relationship between support and stress
emphasizes the importance of identifying students
who lack support, as well as increasing students´
use of the services of school counselors and
teachers.
Aim Results
ENGLISH SUMMARY
Nursing students´ stress and attitudes
towards changes made to their studies in the
time of COVID-19: a cross-sectional study.
Method
Students, nursing, stress, coping mechanisms,
COVID-19
Correspondent:
hrundsch@landspitali.is
Conclusion
Keywords
Nursing students´ stress and attitudes towards changes made to their studies in the time of COVID-19
Thorsteinsson, H.S., Bernhardsdottir, J., Svavarsdottir, M.H., Svavarsdottir, E.K., Kristofersson, G.K., Sveinsdottir, H., Flygenring, B.G.
Participants were 256 (mean age was 27.8 years
(SD=6.6)). Mean stress score was 18.1 (SD=7.03;
range1-37); defined as moderate stress. Most
participants (82.7%) felt they had adequate
support related to their studies and experienced
significantly less stress than students who did
not experience enough support (p=0,002). Main
coping strategies used were talking to family or
friends or physical exercise, while teachers or
students’ counsellors were seldom consulted. Most
participants were satisfied with the changes made
to their studies at this time.