Posttraumatic growth and positive determinants in nursing students after COVID-19 alarm status: A descriptive cross-sectional study

Purpose To determine the relationship between posttraumatic growth (PTG), psychological flexibility, and psychological resilience of nursing students after the COVID-19 alarm status. Design and Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with nursing students (N = 292) studying at a nursing school of a university. The data collection instruments included a form on descriptive variables, and the PTG, psychological flexibility, and psychological resilience scales. Descriptive statistics, independent-samples t test, ANOVA, correlation, simple, and hierarchical linear regression analyses were used to analyze the data. Findings The mean scores regarding psychological flexibility, psychological resilience, and PTG were 27.56 +/- 11.06, 18.10 +/- 5.75, and 63.49 +/- 20.64, respectively. While psychological flexibility explained 36.7% of the total variance in psychological resilience, the predictive effect of seven descriptive variables, including psychological flexibility and psychological resilience, on PTG was determined as 13.4%. Practice Implications PTG, psychological flexibility, and psychological resilience may help nursing students prepare for their transition to the profession.

Automated summary

This study examined the relationship between posttraumatic growth (PTG), psychological flexibility, and psychological resilience of nursing students after the COVID-19 alarm status. It found that psychological flexibility had a significant impact on psychological resilience, while its effect on PTG was smaller.