Date on Honors Thesis

Spring 4-23-2021

Major

Nursing

Examining Committee Member

Nancy Armstrong, PhD, Committee Member

Examining Committee Member

Tonia Mailow, PhD, Committee Member

Examining Committee Member

Jessica Naber, PhD, Advisor

Abstract/Description

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the current pandemic on the mental health of nursing students at a rural university. This study examined various risk factors and potential indicators for mental health, such as changes in physical activity, sleep behaviors, and differing perceptions of support they have received from the nursing program and the participating university, throughout the spread of COVID-19. This study was a non-experimental, analytical study conducted in a rural university in the southern region of the United States. This convenience sample consisted of 21 students, all of which were enrolled in the nursing program at the university. Participants completed an online survey regarding their perception of stress and challenges they have faced throughout the course of the pandemic. This sample reported several indicators of increased mental distress related to the pandemic, which aligns with the hypothesis that the current pandemic has caused a widespread decline in mental health. However, it should be noted, due to the lack of information regarding this specific topic and the overall small and non-diverse sample, which was used in this study, it is hard to say that the results of the study were anything more than correlational.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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