The Stressors and Psychological Stress Responses of Nursing Students

－Comparison with Health Sciences and Medical Technology Students－

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics of the stressors and the psychological stress responses of nursing students by comparing them with health sciences and medical technology students. The participants included 983 nursing, health sciences, and medical technology students enrolled in the School of Science at “A” University.

A questionnaire method was used which incorporated both the sources of stress questionnaire and the Psychological Stress Response Scale （PSRS）. The results after analyzing the 817 responses are as follows：“Relationships with the teacher” and “relationships with the clinical practice tutor” were all cited among the highest ranked items for the stressors of nursing students.

In the characteristics of PSRS, their emotional responses and cognitive-behavioral responses were higher than health sciences students. As for the subscales designed to measure their emotional responses: “anxiety” was higher than medical technology students, and “depressive” was higher than health sciences students. Moreover the subscales designed to measure their cognitive-behavioral responses: “unrealistic wishes” were higher than medical technology students, and “withdrawal” was higher than health sciences students. Furthermore, it was suggested that the school year of which PSRS arrives at peak has difference depending on the department.