Determinants of stress and its relationship with resilience, self-efficacy and coping among final year nursing students at ministry of health training institute in peninsular Malaysia: an adaption of the transactional stress and coping model / Norhayati Nasir

Numerous studies conducted by previous researchers related to stress among nursing students is proven to occur and it leads to bad effects among nursing students in terms of physical health, mental health and academic achievement during nursing students studies. This study aimed to examine factors associated with stress and stress-coping among final year nursing students by adapting the Transactional Stress and Coping Model (Lazarus and Folkman, 1984). This mixed method (explanatory design) approach study had employed a quantitative cross sectional study design in Phase 1 of the study. The total sample was taken by zone, north zone (33.08%, n=139) from Ministry of Health Training Institute Kangar (Perlis), Alor Setar (Kedah), Pulau Pinang and Ministry of Health Training Institute Sultan Azlan Shah (Perak), the west zone (33.33%, n=140) from Ministry of Health Training Institute Sungai Buluh (Selangor), Port Dickson (Negeri Sembilan), Kuala Pilah (Negeri Sembilan) and Melaka. The south zone (18.13%, n=76) from Ministry of Health Training Institute Johor Baharu (Johor), Muar (Johor) and Batu Pahat (Johor) and the east coast zone (15.44%, n= 65) from Ministry of Health Training Institute Kubang Kerian (Kelantan), Pasir Mas (Kelantan) and Kuantan (Pahang). Data collection started on 15.5.2018 and ended on 15.2.2019. In Phase 2, participants were recruited for a focus group interview based on their score on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Analysis data phase I were processed using STATA version 14 and SPSS version 22 software. In Phase 2, a focus group interview involving participants with “low”, “moderate” and “severe” stress levels based on the Perceived Stress Scale-PSS (Cohen, 1983) was conducted to explore factors associated with stress and their stress-coping strategies. A Hermeneutic analysis was used to analyse the qualitative findings and the overall findings highlighted several factors associated with stress and stress-coping among nursing students. Results of this study stated that the level of stress among participants (89.5%, n=376) at a moderate level (mean 18.7, SD:4.4), level of resilience (79.76%, n=335) at a strong level (mean 72.7 , SD: 12.2) and level of self-efficacy (80%, n=336) moderate level (mean 51.5, SD: 7.9). In relation to coping mechanism, study show participants practice positive coping mechanisms experiencing stress during course.