Examining the associations between self-care practices and psychological distress among nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Published in: Nurse education today Vol. 100; p. 104864
• Main Authors: Brouwer, K.R., Walmsley, L.A., Parrish, E.M., McCubbin, A.K., Welsh, J.D., Braido, C.E.C., Okoli, C.T.C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scotland Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2021; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Activities of daily living; Adolescent; Adult; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - psychology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Curricula; Female; Graduate students; Humans; Male; Nursing; Nursing education; Nursing student mental health; Nursing Students; Pandemics; Psychological Distress; Psychological status; Self Care; Sleep; Students, Nursing - psychology; Young Adult; Self-care; Psychological distress; Nursing student mental health
• ISSN: 0260-6917; 1532-2793
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nedt.2021.104864

There is limited research regarding the impact of self-care practices on psychological distress, specifically on nursing students during a pandemic, such as COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease- 2019). A 10-minute electronic survey was sent to nursing students at a large academic-medical center, and data from 285 student respondents were analyzed to assess psychological status, attitudes and behaviors in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. Significant differences were found when comparing self-care practice scores by school grade for total scores (F = 4.48 [df = 4,250], p = .002), emotional subscale (F = 4.78 [df = 4,250], p = .001), and relationship subscale (F = 3.44 [df = 4,250], p = .009). While there were no significant differences in psychological distress by school grade, graduate students had the lowest self-care practice score compared to all the other grades. Finally, the subscale and total self-care practice scores were significantly and negatively associated with psychological distress. These findings suggest that utilization of self-care practices is associated with lower psychological distress, and should therefore be promoted among nursing student populations and integrated into curricula. Future studies should assess specific needs geared towards populations that may have poor self-care practices, such as graduate students, and understand ways to improve sleep quality to mitigate rates of psychological distress during a pandemic. •Self-care practices are critical for nursing students facing home-based quarantine during the COVID-19 Pandemic.•There were significant differences observed in total self-care practices by school grade.•Total self-care practice scores were significantly and negatively associated with psychological distress.•Poor sleep was significantly and negatively associated with psychological distress.•Integrating self-care practices curricula in nursing programs may support student psychological well-being.