Psychological distress among nursing students of a single Slovenian faculty
A quantitative pilot study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14528/snr.2026.60.3.3348Keywords:
psychological distress, nursing students, anxiety, depression, helpseeking behaviourAbstract
Introduction: Nursing students are exposed to many stressors that may contribute to psychological distress. The study aimed to determine differences in the self-assessed severity of psychological distress symptoms by year of study, gender, age, and presence of chronic illness; identify the most commonly selected causes of mental distress; and examine help-seeking behaviours.
Methods: This pilot quantitative study employed a structured questionnaire. A convenience sample of 243 undergraduate nursing students was drawn from a single Slovenian faculty; the response rate was 29.2% (n = 71). Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used for the analysis (Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test).
Results: Psychological distress was most pronounced among students aged ≤25 years (U = 372.00, p = 0.019) and differed significantly according to year of study (χ² = 8.43, p = 0.038). Post hoc analyses showed that first-year students reported higher levels of psychological distress compared with second-year students (p = 0.042). First-year students experienced psychological distress mainly due to exam periods (M = 4.29, SD = 0.849). Half of the students (50.70%) did not seek help. Those who did seek help most frequently turned to close friends and family (87.3%).
Discussion and conclusion: Students commonly experience psychological distress, especially during exam periods. Despite the limited generalisability associated with the small sample size, this study offers important insights into the prevalence of psychological distress and provides a basis for further research and the development of systemic psychological support at universities.
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