Abstract

Nursing students encountered distinctive obstacles during their academic careers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. An increase in mental health concerns was the consequence of the pandemic, which necessitated numerous modifications to their daily routines. Subsequently, students have implemented distinct stress-management strategies that are contingent upon their individual perspectives. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the psychological stress levels and coping strategies employed by nursing students during this time. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional investigation was implemented online. The data were gathered through online surveys, which encompassed assessments of stress perception and coping strategies. The survey was divided into three sections: Part A collected demographic data, Part B employed the Perceived Stress Scale(PSS), and Part C employed the Coping Strategies Scale. Results: The study included a total of 220 respondents, who were between the ages of 18 and 25. Among undergraduate students, Year 4 had the maximum representation (35%), followed by Year 1 (22.2%), Years 2 and 3 (21.4%), and so forth. Moderate worry was reported by the majority of students (70.9%). The mean (±SD) score on the Perceived Stress Scale was 20.54 (±6.062), and the mean (±SD) score on the Coping Strategies Scale was 39.47 (±5.848). Conclusion: The study did not identify any correlation or impact between the perceived stress scale, coping strategies, or any of the sociodemographic factors among nursing students. The examination of these factors will enhance comprehension of the mental health obstacles encountered by nursing students during the pandemic. This information can guide the development of targeted interventions by healthcare providers and educational institutions, including stress management workshops, enhanced access to mental health resources, and modifications to curriculum delivery to more effectively support student well-being during future crises.

Notes

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The license is attached to this item record.

Original article citation: Khin Thandar Aung, & Noor Atikah Mat Ail. (2025). Psychological stress and coping strategies among nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study. Malaysian Journal of Science Health & Technology, 11(1), 13–19. https://doi.org/10.33102/mjosht.v11i1.433

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Author Details

Dr. Khin Thandar Aung is a highly respected academic specialising in e-learning instructional design. She currently serves as a nursing lecturer in the Critical Care Nursing Department at the Faculty of Nursing, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). Dr. Khin is dedicated to sharing knowledge and shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals, with a specific focus on critical care. Throughout her illustrious research career, she has published over 45 works, including books and book chapters, which have received over 200 citations. She has an impressive h-index of 8. Additionally, Dr. Khin actively contributes to the academic community as an editorial board member and reviewer for prestigious journals, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to advancing nursing education and scholarly publishing.

Sigma Membership

Non-member

Type

Article

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Cross-Sectional

Research Approach

Quantitative Research

Keywords:

Psychological Stress, Coping Strategies, Nursing Students, COVID19, Pandemic

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Publisher

Penerbit USIM Press

Version

Publisher's Version

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

Review Type

External Review: Previously Published Material

Acquisition

Indexed Previously Published Material (Per Creative Commons License)

Date of Issue

2025-08-19

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