The prevalence and related factors of depressive symptoms among junior college nursing students: a cross-sectional study

The process of nursing professional training may cause emotional stress on nursing students, potentially resulting in depressive symptoms. As the problems of nurse shortage and increase of nursing student graduates who tend not to pursue nursing career continue to exist, it is important for nursing educators to investigate the factors causing depressive symptoms, and further develop strategies to manage their stress and depressive problems. The prevalence of depressive symptoms among junior college nursing students in Taiwan is high. Grade point average, interest in nursing, interest in clinical placement, career planning after graduation, relieving stress by overeating, sleep quality, stress, and anxiety were correlated with depressive symptoms. Sleep quality, stress, and the degree of anxiety can predict the degree of depressive symptoms among young nursing students in Taiwan. Development of proper strategies to help young nursing students manage stress, anxiety, and facilitate better learning experiences tailored to their problems and needs may be helpful for alleviation or prevention of depressive symptoms. Nursing students have particularly experienced stressful lives during nursing education. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate depressive symptoms and related factors in junior college nursing students. A total of 625 nursing students from a junior college in Taiwan were assessed by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Adolescent Depression Inventory, Situational Anxiety Scale and the Taiwanese-Chinese version of Stress in Nursing Students Scale. The results showed that (1) the prevalence of depressive symptoms among junior college nursing students was 32.6%; (2) depressive symptoms are significantly related to grade point average, interest in nursing, interest in their clinical placement, career planning after graduation, overeating as a stress-relief strategy, sleep problems, stress, and anxiety; and (3) anxiety, sleep quality, and stress are three major variables that can significantly predict depressive symptoms. Psychological factors may influence young nursing students' willingness to seek assistance from teachers. These factors should be considered when designing strategies to promote their emotional health and well-being. Nursing educators can plan appropriate strategies tailored to junior college nursing students' problems and needs, which thereby may facilitate learning experience and prevent depressive symptoms.