Stressors and coping strategies among AU nursing student

Abstract

Nowadays academic stress among undergraduate students is a topic of interest for educational administrator because high level of stress is believed to affect students’ health and academic performance.Stress in nursing students comes from many sources especially academic aspect which is highly stressful for students and may lead to drop out of study program. Students cannot avoid stress but their ability to cope with these stressors is important in achieving success in the academic performance. So managing stress effectively and seeking coping strategy in an appropriate way is very important for preventing the negative effects of stress. This descriptive study was performed to explore sources of stress and coping strategies among AU nursing students. Data were collected from 154 nursing students who enrolled in year one to four in academic year 2008. Two measurements, including Student Stress Survey and Adolescent Coping Orientation for Problem Experiences Inventory, were modified and employed. Descriptive statistics were applied for data analysis by using SPSS version 15.0. Results revealed that finding new friends and work with the unfamiliar people were ranked as the main sources contributing interpersonal stress; intrapersonal sources of stress represented by outstanding personal achievement and speaking in the public; academic stressors, the highly reported stressor were associated with using second language and increasing new responsibilities; and placed in unusual situation was environmental stressor. Furthermore, coping strategies that students always used to overcome stress composed of developing self-reliance and being humorous.