A STUDY TO ASSESS STRESS AND COPING BEHAVIOURS AND TO APPRAISE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SELECTED COPING STRATAGEMS AMONG UNDERGRADUATE NURSING STUDENTS IN SELECTED INSTITUTIONS OF VADODARA, GUJARAT

Abstract

Stress is an inevitable part of student life, particularly in professional courses such as nursing, where academic rigor is coupled with emotionally demanding clinical exposure. Nursing students are frequently exposed to stressors such as examinations, heavy workloads, time constraints, patient care responsibilities, and interpersonal challenges within clinical and academic environments. Persistent stress without effective coping mechanisms may lead to burnout, anxiety, depression, and compromised academic performance.

Coping behaviours refer to the cognitive and behavioural efforts used by individuals to manage stressful situations. Adaptive coping strategies, such as problem-solving, relaxation, and positive reframing, enhance resilience, whereas maladaptive coping strategies may exacerbate stress. Understanding stress levels and coping behaviours among nursing students is essential for developing targeted interventions that promote mental health and professional competence.

In urban educational institutions like those in Vadodara, nursing students face additional stressors such as competitive environments, urban lifestyle challenges, and increased academic expectations. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to assess stress and coping behaviours and to evaluate the effectiveness of selected coping stratagems among undergraduate nursing students.