

































IJO - INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH SCIENCES AND NURSING  

 ( ISSN: 2814-2098 )    
                                                                          ANIECHE JOHN E.* 

https://ijojournals.com/                                          Volume 07 || Issue 10|| October, 2024 || 
ACADEMIC STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG STUDENT NURSES IN COLLEGES OF NURSING SCIENCES IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA 

 

ACADEMIC STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG STUDENT NURSES IN COLLEGES OF 

NURSING SCIENCES IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA 

1. OTTIWU PERPETUA C 

2. *ANIECHE JOHN E. 

1 & 2 : Department of Nursing Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus 

Absrtact 
This is a cross sectional study that explored the academic stress and coping strategies among 
the student nurses in Colleges of Nursing in Anambra State, Nigeria. A total of 366 
respondents were proportionately drawn from a total of 1,894 students through Taro 
Yamene formula for sample size calculation. A validated questionnaire that was tested for 
internal consistency was used for data collection. Ethical approval 
(NAUTH/CS/66/VOL.16/VER.3/58/2024/04)was obtained from the REC, NAUTH, Nnewi. Data 
collected were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS IBM Version 
25. Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation was used to test the relationship between 
Colleges of Nursing student coping strategies. Independent sample t-test was also used to 
examine differences between the students’ training institutions and their sources of 
academic stress, and also between institutional training of the student and stress coping 
strategies of nursing students. Multiple regression was employed to analyze the association 
between the demographic variables of the students and their stress coping strategies with 
value of P < 0.05  considered to be statistically significant. Study revealed that a good 
number of the student nurses(52.7%) in Colleges of Nursing Sciences in Anambra State 
experience academic stress of which 78.0% saw the amount of class work materials to be 
learned as a source of stress and a greater number (67.5%) were of the opinion that financial 
problem causes stress to them. Coping strategies applied by student nurses include: seeking 
professional support from senior nurses, listening to music or watching movies, family moral 
support, and others. Positive correlation was found between the students’ training 
institution and their source of stress. Study showed that there is an association between the 
demographic variables of the students and their stress coping strategies and there is no 
association between type of training institution and stress coping strategies among the 
students.  

Key words: academic stress. coping strategies, student nurses, Colleges of Nursing 
 

INTRODUCTION 
There are diverse types of stressors and consequences experienced by student nurses and 
their ability to cope with stress is essential for them to succeed. In the opinion of Gibson et 
al, (2007) cited in Ajibade et al, (2016), students undergoing training in Nursing schools 
seem to possess a substantially higher level of potential for encountering pressure and 
challenges compared to other college students. Stress maybe be seen as a common element 
in life regardless of race or cultural background but the emotional and physical means 
people respond to it may lead to mental and physical symptoms. The effects of stress 
sometimes vary depending on how it is appraised, and the coping strategies used. In the 
opinion of AL-Ayadhi, (2005)cited in Mahfouz and Alsahli,(2016), coping strategies to stress 
differ between individuals and are influenced by ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic 

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IJO - INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH SCIENCES AND NURSING  

 ( ISSN: 2814-2098 )    
                                                                          ANIECHE JOHN E.* 

https://ijojournals.com/                                          Volume 07 || Issue 10|| October, 2024 || 
ACADEMIC STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG STUDENT NURSES IN COLLEGES OF NURSING SCIENCES IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA 

 

characteristics of the persons involved. 
It has been found that one in five nurses want to quit their job and 40% nurses experience 
considerable burnout due to academic and workplace stress (Yasmin et al., 2018). In nursing 
training, students experience increased tension prior to their clinical experiences and written 
examination especially their finals. Studies confirmed that one third of student nurses 
experience stress severe enough to induce mental health problem such as depression and 
anxiety (Screevany, 2015). 
Students may have difficulty in adjusting to more rigorous academic expectations, 
separation from home for the first time and the varied structure of academic experience at 
the college level (Pascoe, et al., 2019). Going further, Pascoe et al., (2019), stated that the 
common stressors among students include; academic workload, time pressure, decision-
making, continuous changes, and economic mistakes which tend to negatively impact on 
them physically, psychologically, academically, and socially. Worry about successes, 
academic workload, availability of time,family problems, and engagement in patients’ care 
were viewed by Mohammed and Ahmed (2021), to be among the factors that cause stress 
among higher school students. Other factors may include assignment submission, excess 
homework, assessment deadlines, unclear assignments, uncomfortable classrooms and 
relations with faculty members. 
 Stress can be self-imposed as seen in setting too high standard or having unrealistic 
expectations regarding one’s ability, situational such as seen in time constraints, lack of 
resources, threats to emotional or physical well-being(Iyi, 2015). Stress could be  connected 
with life changes, personal or work related and the inability to adapt successfully may result 
in illness. 
Generally, what may be distressful to one person may be excitingly challenging (positive 
stressful) to another and the same event can be distressful at one time and stimulating or 
non-stressful at another (Anand &Nemera, 2015). For an event to cause distress may 
sometimes depend on individual’s perception of the situation.  
These notwithstanding, when stress gets out of control, it becomes challenging and may 
affect the individual’s health, one’s relationship with others and and distort life process (Iyi, 
2015). The stressful challenges encountered may include insecurity about clinical 
competence, fear of failure and interpersonal relations with patients, the pressure resulting 
from the fear of expulsion from the training, time pressure, and lack of motivation, poor 
social life, interacting with dying patients and interpersonal conflicts with other nurses. 
Some of these may positively or negatively affect the student. 
Chapman, et al. (2020), stated that stress could result into exhaustion, depersonalisation 
and decreased personal achievements. Stressful events could make student nurses 
experience deterioration in academic performance which may result to elimination from the 
nursing program and shortage of nurses in clinical career (Moustaka&Constantinidis,2019). 
Furthermore, studies have shown that one third of student nurses experience severe stress 
that might induce mental health problems such as depression and anxiety (Chernomas& 
Shapiro, 2013; Zeng, et al. 2019).A study by Parveen and Inayat, (2017),  showed that about 
70% of students participants have positive view that academic, clinical and environmental 
factors cause among nursing students. In the same vein, Oluwaseun, et al, (2023), in their 
cross-sectional descriptive study concluded that students' predominant stress sources were 
academic workload (73.1%) and financial difficulties (55.7%) for which self-distraction and 
instrumental support were used as coping strategies. Khajehei and Kashefi (2016),found out 

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IJO - INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH SCIENCES AND NURSING  

 ( ISSN: 2814-2098 )    
                                                                          ANIECHE JOHN E.* 

https://ijojournals.com/                                          Volume 07 || Issue 10|| October, 2024 || 
ACADEMIC STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG STUDENT NURSES IN COLLEGES OF NURSING SCIENCES IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA 

 

that palpitation, fatigue, decreased energy, unusual behaviour and inability to concentrate 
were common resultants of stress among students.  
The above notwithstanding, 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. Since student nurses experience diverse types of 
stresses with possiblenegative consequences, the ability to cope with stress is essential for 
them to succeed and the need to adopt appropriate coping strategy is golden. The stress 
experienced by students can be altered and influenced by the coping strategies they choose 
to employ. Effective coping strategies help students to perform markedly better in regards 
to their studies (Khater, Akhuzaheya &Shaban, 2014). 
Various coping strategies used by students include ventilation, diversion, relaxation, self-
reliance, social peer group support, avoidance, praying, day dreaming listening to music and 
smoking, drinking, joking and others (Regehr, Glancy& Pitts, 2013). Stress management 
studies have shown that students can do little on their own to significantly reduce stress 
which they experience or to which they are exposed  therefore, they  should be guided on 
how to adapt and prioritize their own care among the other demands required of the 
profession (Jarrad,et al. 2018).  
MacArthur,(2014) cited by Ajibade et al, (2016), further categorized coping strategies into 
active and avoidant. In his opinion, “active coping strategies” are either behavioral or 
psychological responses designed to change the nature of the stressors itself or how one 
thinks about it, whereas “avoidant coping strategies” lead people into activities such as 
alcohol use, or mental states such as withdrawal that keep them from directly addressing 
stressful events.Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behaviour (2023) stated that 
coping mechanisms can be either active or avoidant. Sheu, etal(2013), identified other 
strategies such as: Staying optimistic, application of transference, identifying triggers and 
warning signs, establishing routines, spending time with people who care and look after 
one’s health through eating healthy food, getting regular exercise and 1istening to music, 
walking or dancing as means of managing stress. 
In the opinion of Regehr, Glancy& Pitts, (2013), stress management could also be behavioral 
or psycho-social with the outcome aimed at tolerating, reducing or minimize stressful 
events. In some instances, it could be problem solving or emotional focused coping 
strategies (Al-Gamal, Alhosain&Alusunaye, 2018).  
Generally, active coping strategies, whether behavioral or emotional, are thought to be better 
ways to deal with stressful events, while avoidant coping strategies appear to be a 
psychological risk factor or marker for adverse responses to stressful life event.  
When coping with stress is successful, adaptation takes place and promotes health, 
psychological well-being and social functioning (Soares & Oliveira, 2013 in Ajibade, et al, 
(2016). Adopting appropriate management strategies is very important for counteracting the 
negative effects of stress among students.  
In the course of academic activities and interaction with students the researchers observed 
some unhealthy behaviours among students such as irritable actions, withdrawal from friends 
and academic activities. Further probe into the situation  revealed to some extent that some 
of them are not finding it easy with the stress they are passing through in their schools. These 
prompted the researchers to ask some questions relating to the origin of stress among the 
students, any coping strategies applied by the students and how effective these coping 

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IJO - INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH SCIENCES AND NURSING  

 ( ISSN: 2814-2098 )    
                                                                          ANIECHE JOHN E.* 

https://ijojournals.com/                                          Volume 07 || Issue 10|| October, 2024 || 
ACADEMIC STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG STUDENT NURSES IN COLLEGES OF NURSING SCIENCES IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA 

 

strategies have been in managing their stress. 
This study is therefore set to determine stress and stress coping strategies among student 
nurses in Colleges of Nursing in Anambra State, Nigeria. 
Objective of the Study were to: 

1. Identify sources of academic stress among student nurses inColleges of nursing 
in Anambra State 

2. Determine the coping strategies applied by student nurses in Colleges of 
Nursing Sciences in Anambra State in the management of academic stress. 

The researchers hypothesized that:  
1. There will be no significant association between student nurses’ training institution 

in Anambra State Nigeria and their source of stress. 
2. Training institution of the student nurses in Anambra State Nigeriawill not play any 

significant role in their stress coping strategies. 
3. There will be no association between the demographic variables of the students and 

their stress coping strategies 

METHODOLOGY 
Research Design 
The study adopted a cross sectional design to explore the academic stress, and coping 
strategies among the student nurses in Anambra State. Brotobor, et al., (2021) adopted the 
same design in their assessment of stress and stress management strategies adopted by 
students of the Department of Nursing Sciences, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.   
Area of Study 
The study was conducted in Colleges of Nursing in Anambra State,South-Eastern Nigeria. 
Anambra State  is an industrial and commercial state in Nigeria with nine Colleges of Nursing 
located in different senatorial zones of the state. These training institutions were accredited 
by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) for the training of student nurses. 
Ownership of the colleges differ. Some are owned by the government while some are 
owned by the missions/churches. Irrespective of the ownership, each college has required 
structures and human capacity to train nurses as required by the regulatory body for the 
training of nurses in Nigeria.  
Population of Study 
Population for the study comprised of 1,894 students enrolled in the Colleges of Nursing 
Sciences in Anambra State at the time of this study. These students were in their different 
academic levels. 
Sampleand Sampling Technique 
Cluster sampling technique was used to select the institutions. This was done based on the 
ownership of the colleges (Federal, State and Private/Mission). 
One Federal College of Nursing, one State College of Nursing and two Privates/mission 
Colleges were randomly selected to participate in the study. 
A total of 366 sample was proportionately drawnfor the study through Taro Yamene 
formula for sample size selection. 
Respondents for the study were proportionately selected to ensure proper representation 
of the population for each training institution. 
 
 

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IJO - INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH SCIENCES AND NURSING  

 ( ISSN: 2814-2098 )    
                                                                          ANIECHE JOHN E.* 

https://ijojournals.com/                                          Volume 07 || Issue 10|| October, 2024 || 
ACADEMIC STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG STUDENT NURSES IN COLLEGES OF NURSING SCIENCES IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA 

 

Instrument for Data Collection  
The instrument for data collection was modified questionnaire adopted from standardized 
perceived stress scale and coping behavior inventory gotten from previous studies. The 
instrument was validated by experts and tested for internal consistency through Spearman 
Brown correlation coefficient which yielded a reliability index of 0.90. 
Ethical Consideration 
The following ethical consideration were ensured by the researcher during the course of the 
study.  
Ethical approval with reference number NAUTH/CS/66/VOL.16/VER.3/58/2024/04 was 
obtained from Nnamdi Azikwe University Teaching Hospital Human Research Committee, 
before data collection commenced. Formal permission was also obtained from the provost 
of the selected Colleges of Nursing in Anambra State before commencement of the study. 
Anonymity of the respondents as well as confidentiality of information from them. 
Voluntary participation was ensured as respondents were not not pressurized to participate 
in the study and respect for human dignity was equally ensured in the course of data 
collection. 
 
Procedure for Data Collection     
The REC and individual institutional approvals were used to gain access to the respondents 
who also accepted to participate in the study. After interaction with the respondents during 
which the purpose and objectives of the study were explained to the respondents. 
Clarifications were made were necessary before they responded to the instrument. The face 
to administration of the instrument lasted for three months 
Method of Data Analysis 
The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS IBM Version 
25. Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation was used to test the relationship between 
Colleges of Nursing student coping strategies. Independent sample t-test was also used to 
examine difference between the student training institution and their source of academic 
stress and also between institutional training of the student and stress coping strategies of 
nursing students.Multiple regression was employed to analyze the association between the 
demographic variables of the students and their stress coping strategies with value of P < 
0.05  considered to be statistically significant. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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IJO - INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH SCIENCES AND NURSING  

 ( ISSN: 2814-2098 )    
                                                                          ANIECHE JOHN E.* 

https://ijojournals.com/                                          Volume 07 || Issue 10|| October, 2024 || 
ACADEMIC STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG STUDENT NURSES IN COLLEGES OF NURSING SCIENCES IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA 

 

RESULTS 

Table 1: Socio-demographic variables of the respondents (n = 366)  

Item Frequency Percentage (%) 

Age    

16 – 20 years  

21 – 26 years  

27 – 31 years  

32 – 36 years  

37 – 40 years 

40 years and above 

32 

286 

27 

11 

6 

4 

8.7 

78.1 

7.4       Mean Age:21.4years 

3.0        SD=0.77 

1.6 

1.1 

Religion  

Christianity   

Muslim  

Traditional  

Others  

 

338 

16 

12 

0 

 

92.4 

4.4 

3.3 

0.0 

Level of study  

Year 1 

Year 2 

Year 3 

 

152 

118 

96 

 

41.5 

32.2 

26.2 

Sex  

Female  

Male  

 

319 

47 

 

87.2 

12.8 

Marital Status     

Single  

Married  

Other 

345 

19 

3 

94.3 

5.2 

0.8 

Type of training institution   

Federal    

State  

Private/mission   

87 

84 

195 

23.7 

22.9 

53.3 

Table 1 shows that the mean age of the respondents is 21.4 years with      SD of 0.77. Majority 

of the respondents 152(41.5%) are in year one. 

Majority of the respondents345 (94.3%) were females and 195(53.3%) belong to 

Private/Mission Colleges of Nursing. 

 

 

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IJO - INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH SCIENCES AND NURSING  

 ( ISSN: 2814-2098 )    
                                                                          ANIECHE JOHN E.* 

https://ijojournals.com/                                          Volume 07 || Issue 10|| October, 2024 || 
ACADEMIC STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG STUDENT NURSES IN COLLEGES OF NURSING SCIENCES IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA 

 

 

Table 2: Sources of academic stress among the students (n = 366)  
Item                              S/Agree (%)   Agree (%)      Disagree (%)     S/disagree(%) 
Maintain balance between      132(37.4)       193(52.7)        30(8.3) 5(1.4) 

study and leisure time  

The amount of class work        281(78.0)     63(17.5)  13(3.6)  9(2.5)   

materials to be learned  

Less vacations/break                243(67.5)      93(25.8) 23(6.4)   7(1.9) 

Thought of examination  173(48.1) 89(24.7) 52(14.4)                  46(12.8) 

Fear of failing a course      183(50.8)     119(33.1)      40(11.1)          24(6.7) 

Fear of making mistake    21(5.8)     198(55.0)        113(31.3)                18(5.0) 

during clinical experience   

Financial problems         243(67.5)     60(16.7)        47(13.1)            16(4.4) 

Poor inter-personal                113(31.4)      198(55.0)         23(6.3)                   16(4.4) 

relation with the teachers  

Family problem                        243(67.5)      93(25.4)              23(6.2)                          7(1.9) 

 
Table 2 shows the sources of stress commonly experienced by the student nurses. From the 
table, 193(52.7%) of the respondents agreed that maintaining balance between study and 
leisure time is stressful to them while 132 (37.4 %) of the respondents strongly agreed to this. 
The table further reveals that 281 (78.0%) of the respondents strongly agreed the amount of 
class work materials to be learned areamong the stressors commonly experienced by 
student. Less vacation or break in Colleges of nursing was identified by majority 243(67.5%) 
as stressors. The table further reveals that 173 (47.2%) of the respondents believed that the 
thought of examination constitute stress commonly experienced by student nurses. 
Fear failing a course is a common stress experienced by student nurses asrevealed in the 
table where 183(50.8%) of the respondents strongly agreed to this. 
The fear of making mistake during clinical experience was agreed by 198 (55.0%) of the 
respondents to be a commonly experienced stress among student nurses. 
Financial problem was seen by the majority of the respondents 243(67.5%) with strong 
agreement as a stress commonly experienced by student nurses. 
The table further shows that 243 (67.5%) of the respondents strongly agreed that family 
problem is stress commonly experience by student nurses. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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IJO - INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH SCIENCES AND NURSING  

 ( ISSN: 2814-2098 )    
                                                                          ANIECHE JOHN E.* 

https://ijojournals.com/                                          Volume 07 || Issue 10|| October, 2024 || 
ACADEMIC STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG STUDENT NURSES IN COLLEGES OF NURSING SCIENCES IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA 

 

Table 3: Stress coping strategies applied by student nurses against academic stress (n = 366)  
Item                                 Always (%)    Sometimes (%)      Rarely (%)       Never(%) 
Look forward to the benefit   98(26.8)     189(52.5)           56(15.3)         23(6.3) 
 of practicing as a nurse   

Engage in diversion therapies 152(41.5)    104(28.4)        91(24.9)           19(5.2) 
 
Outline a plan on how to           74(20.2)      225(61.4)        48(13.3)            19(5.2)    
address the situation   
 
Seeking a professional               186(50.8)      98(26.8)         53(14.5)            29(7.9)     
support from senior colleagues 
 
listening to music and watch      154(42.1)      99(27.5)      67(18.3)            46(12.8) 
movie  
 
Received moral support from family 205(56.0)      84(22.9)     62(16.9)    15(4.1) 
 
 
Coping strategies used by student nurses in coping with academic stress and the frequency of 
usages of the strategies, the table 3 shows that 189(52.5%) of the respondents said they 
sometime looking forward to the benefit of practicing as a professional nurse helps them to 
cope with stress. 
A good number of the respondents 152(41.5%) always engage in diversion therapies as a 
coping strategy. Table also shows that 225(61.4%) of the respondents outline a plan on how 
to address the situation as means of coping with academic stress.Seeking support from senior 
colleaguesis preferred as coping strategy by 186 (50.8%) of the respondents. 
Listening to music and watching movies are used as coping strategies applied by 154 (42.1%) 
of the respondents even as 205(56.0%) of the respondents said they always receive moral 
support from family as a coping strategy. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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IJO - INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH SCIENCES AND NURSING  

 ( ISSN: 2814-2098 )    
                                                                          ANIECHE JOHN E.* 

https://ijojournals.com/                                          Volume 07 || Issue 10|| October, 2024 || 
ACADEMIC STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG STUDENT NURSES IN COLLEGES OF NURSING SCIENCES IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA 

 

Table 4: Karl Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis result of the relationship 
between the student training institution and their source of stress. 

 Source of stress Training institution 

Source of stress Pearson 

Correlation 

1 .906** 

Sig. (2-tailed)  .000 

Sum of Squares 

and Cross-

products 

528.776 285.565 

Covariance 1.560 .842 

N 366 366 

Training institution Pearson 

Correlation 

.906** 1 

Sig. (2-tailed) .000  

Sum of Squares 

and Cross-

products 

285.565 187.797 

Covariance .842 .554 

N 366 366 

**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed). 

The analysis showed a correlation coefficient of 0.906 indicating the existence of strong 
positive relationship between the student training institution and their source of stress. The 
test was significant at 0.01 significant level, and led to the rejection of the null hypothesis 
which states that there will be no significant association between the student training 
institution and their source of stress. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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IJO - INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH SCIENCES AND NURSING  

 ( ISSN: 2814-2098 )    
                                                                          ANIECHE JOHN E.* 

https://ijojournals.com/                                          Volume 07 || Issue 10|| October, 2024 || 
ACADEMIC STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG STUDENT NURSES IN COLLEGES OF NURSING SCIENCES IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA 

 

Table 5: Karl Pearson Product Moment correlation result of relationship between type of 
training institutional of the student and stress coping strategies of nursing students 

 Institutional 
training 

Coping strategies 

Institutional training 

Pearson Correlation 1 .948** 
Sig. (2-tailed)  .000 
Sum of Squares and 
Cross-products 

250.578 244.844 

Covariance 1.400 1.368 
N 366 366 

Coping strategies 

Pearson Correlation .948** 1 
Sig. (2-tailed) .000  
Sum of Squares and 
Cross-products 

244.844 266.061 

Covariance 1.368 1.486 
N 366 366 

**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed). 
 

Table 5 shows a correlation coefficient of 0.948 indicating the existence of strong positive 
relationship between the Training institutional of the student and their stress coping 
strategies. The test was significant at 0.01 significant level, and led to the rejection of the 
null hypothesis which states that institutional training of the student nurse will not play a 
significant role in the stress coping strategies of nursing students in Anambra State.  
Table 6: Multiple regression analysis of the association between the demographic 
variables of the students and their stress coping strategies  
Dependent variable   =    stress coping strategies 

The multiple regression analysis of the association between the demographic variables of 
the students and their stress coping strategies revealed a coefficient of determination (R-

Variable B Standard error B T Sig  

Constant 2.307 0.396  5.231 .000 
Sex  0.312 0.035 0.418 4.081 .000 
Age  -0.152 0.89 -0.169 -2.567 0.17 
Type of training institution 0.111 0.047 0.121 1.562 .071 
Level of study  0.412 0.077 0.334 3.984 .000 
R  = 0.396 
R2  = 0.664 
Adjusted R2 = 0.139 
Std. Error = 0.4826 
Calculated F* = 119.637 
Critical F* = 3.84 
df1  =  3 
df2  = 364 
d/w                      =           .416  
Significant @ p<0.05 
 

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IJO - INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH SCIENCES AND NURSING  

 ( ISSN: 2814-2098 )    
                                                                          ANIECHE JOHN E.* 

https://ijojournals.com/                                          Volume 07 || Issue 10|| October, 2024 || 
ACADEMIC STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG STUDENT NURSES IN COLLEGES OF NURSING SCIENCES IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA 

 

square) of 0.644.  This means that 64.4 percent of the response rate for stress coping 
strategies was accounted by the demographic variables of students represented in the 
model as sex, age, nature of school and level of study. This implies that the response rate 
acknowledged that stress coping strategies as a function of the variables; sex, age, nature of 
school and level of study. The value of R of 0.396 indicated the existence of a significant 
positive relationship between the demographic variables of the students and their stress 
coping strategies.  
Breaking down the demographic variables of the student, the regression weight of sex had a 
standardized value of 0.418, a t value of 5.231 and a sig. level of 0.000 which is less than 
0.05 level of significant. Therefore, indicating a significant relationship between sex and 
stress coping strategies. This shows that the stress coping strategies is significantly 
associated with the sex of the students indicated that the male sex cope with stress better 
than their female counterpart.  
As regards age of the respondents, the regression weight of age had a standardized value of 
-0.169, a t value of -2.567 and a sig. level of 0.017 which is less than 0.05 level of significant, 
therefore, indicating a significant relationship between age and stress coping strategies. The 
negative weight value shows that the higher the age of the students, the lower their stress 
coping strategies, indicating that the older students have less stress coping strategy than 
their young counterpart.  
With respect to nature of school, the table disclosed that the regression slope of nature of 
school had a standardized value of 0.121, a t value of 1.562 and a sig. level of 0.071 which is 
greater than 0.05 level of significant indicating that there is no significant relationship 
between type of school and stress coping strategies. The result shows that stress is not 
associated with the nature of school indicating that all the students faces stress not minding 
the type of the school involved. Thus, there is no relationship between type of school and 
stress coping strategies among students. 
Lastly, the level of study indicated that the regression weight of level of study had a 
standardized value of 0.344, a t value of 3.984 and a sig. level of 0.000 which is less the 0.05 
level of significant which indicate a significant relationship between level of study and stress 
coping strategies. This shows that the stress coping strategies is significantly associated with 
the level of study of the study. Also, The positive weight value shows that the higher the 
level of study of the students, the higher their stress coping strategies, indicating that the 
older students have better stress coping strategy than the lower level study who are just 
experience stress.  

DISCUSSION 

Sources of academic stress among student Nurses in Anambra state 
Findings from the study revealed that a good number of the student nurses(52.7%) in 
Colleges of Nursing Sciences in Anambra State experience academic stress of which 78.0% 
saw the amount of class work materials to be learned as a source of stress. 
A good number of the students (67.5%) strongly believed that less vacation/break is the 
source of stress to them. The thought of examination was seen by lesser number of the 
students (48.1%) as sources of stress while a greater number (67.5%) were of the opinion 
that financial problem cause stress to them as students.  
Poor inter-personal relation with the teachers constitutes sources of stress to about (55.0%) 
of the student even as 67.5% of them has family problem constituting sources of stress to 

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                                                                          ANIECHE JOHN E.* 

https://ijojournals.com/                                          Volume 07 || Issue 10|| October, 2024 || 
ACADEMIC STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG STUDENT NURSES IN COLLEGES OF NURSING SCIENCES IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA 

 

them which aligns with Parveen and Inayat, (2017), Oluwaseun, et al, (2023) and 
Seyedfatemi,et al. (2018). 
Coping strategies applied by student nurses in Colleges of Nursing Sciences  Anambra state 
in the management of academic stress 
Study revealed that the student nurses in Colleges of Nursing in Anambra State employ some 
coping strategies in dealing with their academic stress.A good number of the students 
(52.5%) believe that looking forward to the benefit of practicing as a professional nurses help 
them to manage their academic stress.Majority of the students (61.4%) outline their plan on 
how to address stressful as a strategy to manage stress.  
Further, a good number of the students (50.8%) always seek professional support from senior 
nurses as means of managing stress while some others (42.1%) listen to music or watch 
movies.Finding revealed that 56.0% of the student nurses said that family moral support 
assists them in managing their academic stressors. These findings are in line with Lucas et al. 
(1993)in Al-Ahmadi, H. (2014). Varied array of strategies employed by the students to manage 
stress could be based on the assertion that some stress can spur some students to do better 
in academics. 
Association between type of training institution and sources of stress 
Positive correlation was found between the students’ training institution and their source of 
stress.It shows that the type of institution and its characteristics like less break and poor 
interpersonal relationship with the teachers significantly influence students stress level. 
Existence of positive correlation between the type of training institution and sources of 
stress may suggest that some training institutions’ poor interpersonal between the teachers 
and the students as well as difficult management policies, may be contributing factors to 
students’ academic stress.  
Association between the demographic variables of the students and their stress coping 
strategies of nursing students in Anambra state 
Finding from study showed that there is an association between the demographic variables 
of the students and their stress coping strategies. Negative weight value shows that the 
higher the age of the students, the lower their stress coping strategies, indicating that the 
older students have less stress coping strategy than their young counterpart as this could be 
due to their energy and stamina with fewer responsibility outside study than older students.  
There was no relationship between type of training institution and stress coping strategies 
among students Thus, the findings shows that stress is not associated with the nature of 
school indicating that all students in the Colleges of Nursing in Anambra State face related 
academic stress irrespective of the type of institution. This could be likened to the use of the 
same curriculum for the training of the students and possibly relatedness in the policies of 
the different institutions. 
The positive weight value shows that the higher the level of study of the students, the 
higher their stress coping strategies, indicating that the older students have better stress 
coping strategy than the lower-level students. This may be related to improved experience 
as students become more familiar with academic expectations and workload management 
and matured with age as they develop more coping mechanism 
Conclusion   
Stress may be a hindering factor towards effective learning but it remains inseparable in 
health care academic programmes. Effective coping strategies can facilitate adaptation 
among student nurses with smooth academic progression. 

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IJO - INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH SCIENCES AND NURSING  

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                                                                          ANIECHE JOHN E.* 

https://ijojournals.com/                                          Volume 07 || Issue 10|| October, 2024 || 
ACADEMIC STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG STUDENT NURSES IN COLLEGES OF NURSING SCIENCES IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA 

 

Considering the findings of this study appropriate strategies there is need for well 
established staff student relationship for better coping among the students. 
Recommendations 
Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations were made by the 
researchers:  
 Studying hours should be regulated to enable student nurses have adequate time to rest 

and cope better in the course of their study. 
 Teachers who are open to communication and can recognize signs of stress in students 

will make academic stress coping strategies easier for the students. 
Conflict of Interest 

Authors declare that there was no conflict of interest in the course of this study 

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                                                                          ANIECHE JOHN E.* 

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ACADEMIC STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG STUDENT NURSES IN COLLEGES OF NURSING SCIENCES IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA 

 

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