Effect of Psychological Intervention on Perceived Stress and Positive Psychological Traits Among Nursing Students: Findings During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

High levels of perceived stress and deterioration of positive psychological traits concomitant with the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic have endangered the health and academic achievement of nursing students. Effective intervention research in this area should be performed as soon as possible. In the current study, a 15-month trial involving nursing students recruited from a medical university was conducted, in which an experimental group ( n = 126) received the Three Good Things exercise based on social network groups. Two follow ups were performed. There was no intervention in the control group. During the intervention period, there were significant differences in perceived stress, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism between the two groups ( p < 0.05). Perceived stress in the experimental group was significantly reduced throughout the follow-up period ( p < 0.001). Postintervention analysis of optimism showed maintenance of the improvement trend over a 3-month period ( p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in hope between groups. The Three Good Things exercise had a short-term effect on decreasing perceived stress and increasing optimism among nursing students. [ Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 60 (10), 39–48.]