Background: Psychological distress among higher education students is of global
concern. Students on programmes with practicum components such as nursing
and teacher education are exposed to additional stressors which may further
increase their risk for psychological distress. The ways in which these students
cope with distress has potential consequences for their health and academic
performance. An in-depth understanding of how nursing/midwifery and teacher
education students experience psychological distress and coping is necessary to
enable higher education providers to adequately support these students.
Methods: This mixed method study was employed to establish self-reported
psychological distress (General Health Questionnaire), coping processes (Ways of
Coping Questionnaire) and lifestyle behaviour (Lifestyle Behaviour Questionnaire)
of a total sample (n51557) of undergraduate nursing/midwifery and teacher
education students in one university in Ireland. Individual interviews (n559)
provided an in-depth understanding of students experiences of psychological
distress and coping.
Results: A significant percentage (41.9%) of respondents was psychologically
distressed. The factors which contributed to their distress, included study, financial,
living and social pressures. Students used varied coping strategies including
seeking social support, problem solving and escape avoidance. The positive
relationship between elevated psychological distress and escape avoidance
behaviours including substance use (alcohol, tobacco and cannabis) and unhealthy
diet is of particular concern. Statistically significant relationships were identified
between ‘‘escape-avoidance’’ and gender, age, marital status, place of residence
programme/year of study and lifestyle behaviours such as diet, substance use and
physical inactivity.
Conclusion: The paper adds to existing research by illuminating the psychological
distress experienced by undergraduate nursing/midwifery and teacher education
students. It also identifies their distress, maladaptive coping and the relationship to
their lifestyle behaviours. The findings can inform strategies to minimise student
distress and maladaptive coping during college and in future professional years.
History
Publication
PLoS ONE;9 (12), e115913
Publisher
Public Library of Science
Note
peer-reviewed
THE LINK TO THE DATA SET FOR THIS ARTICLE IS: http://hdl.handle.net/10344/4132