ASSESSMENT OF ACADEMIC STRESS COPING STRATEGIES AMONG NURSING STUDENTS IN PRIVATE NURSING INSTITUTES OF KARACHI, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Background:
Nursing students are frequently exposed to academic and clinical stressors due to demanding coursework, clinical responsibilities, and expectations of professional competence. These stressors can negatively impact their psychological well-being and academic performance. Understanding coping strategies is essential for supporting students in managing stress effectively.

Objective
To assess the coping strategies used by nursing students to manage academic stress and to examine their association with selected demographic variables in private nursing institutes of Karachi, Pakistan.

Methods:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 nursing students from four private nursing institutes in Karachi. Participants were selected using convenient purposive sampling. Data were collected using the standardized COPE Inventory questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20, including descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA to determine associations between coping strategies and demographic variables.

Results:
The majority of participants were female (62.5%) and aged between 21–25 years. Religious coping strategies were the most commonly used (19.15%), followed by optimistic coping (17.62%) and problem-solving strategies (17.36%). Emotional (11.11%) and motivational strategies (7.83%) were less frequently used. Significant differences in coping strategies were observed across institutes (p < 0.01), while no significant association was found with gender (p = 0.609).

Conclusion:
Nursing students experience considerable academic stress and utilize a range of coping strategies, with religious coping being the most dominant. Educational institutions should implement structured support systems, including counseling and stress management programs, to promote effective coping and enhance student well-being.