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Cited by 135Mindfulness and Compassion InterventionsStudent Stress and CopingHealthcare professionals’ stress and burnout

Self-compassion may reduce anxiety and depression in nursing students: a pathway through perceived stress

Luo, Y., Meng, R., Li, J., Liu, B., Cao, X., Ge, W.·2019·Public Health
DOI 10.1016/j.puhe.2019.05.015
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Abstract

Objectives Nursing students report high levels of anxiety and depression, which requires urgent attention. A growing amount of evidence indicates that self-compassion may indirectly (through perceived stress) and directly influence anxiety and depression, yet the research to date has not fully examined the reasons for this association. The present study examines the effects of self-compassion on anxiety and depression through perceived stress and may thus provide an innovative starting point for developing effective interventions for affected nursing students.Study design This is a cross-sectional study.Methods Using structural equation modelling (SEM), we estimated the strength of the pathways between self-compassion, perceived stress and anxiety and depression among 1453 nursing students in Ningbo, China. The measurements included demographics, the Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form, the Chinese version of the Perceived Stress Questionnaire and the Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale.Results Nursing students had an average score of 4.50 ± 2.44 on the Goldberg Anxiety Scale (GAS) and 3.58 ± 2.34 on the Goldberg Depression Scale (GDS), indicating high levels of anxiety and depression. The GAS and GDS scores were significantly different by the academic year, part-time employment and career prospects. The average scores for self-compassion and perceived stress were 38.99 ± 4.55 and 0.40 ± 0.14, respectively. The SEM results suggested that self-compassion was negatively associated with anxiety and depression (-0.44, P < 0.001). Perceived stress was positively associated with anxiety and depression (0.64, P < 0.001). Self-compassion was negatively associated with perceived stress (-0.65, P < 0.001). Self-compassion had no significant correlation with anxiety and depression in the effect of perceived stress (-0.14, P = 0.127). Thus, self-compassion indirectly influences anxiety and depression through perceived stress.Conclusions Self-compassion might reduce nursing students' anxiety and depression through perceived stress. Interventionists can consider using self-compassion training to alleviate perceived stress, anxiety and depression in nursing students.

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Authors
Luo, Y., Meng, R., Li, J., Liu, B., Cao, X., & Ge, W.
Affiliations
  • Ningbo College of Health Sciences (CN)
  • Hubei University of Medicine (CN)
  • Emory University (US)
Corresponding author
  • Meng, R.
  • Liu, B.
ORCID
Venue
Public Health
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2019-09
Volume
174
Pages
1-10
ISSN
0033-3506 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.puhe.2019.05.015
OpenAlex
W2955061560
Cited by
135
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 28 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 1
FWCI
12.55
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Public Health (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Ningbo College of Health Sciences scientific research (2018Z02)
  • Ideological and Political Education Research Association of Ningbo's Colleges and Universities research (SGXSZ18012)
  • Key Research Center for Humanities and Social Sciences in Hubei Province (2016YB006)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Student Stress and Coping
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout
Keywords
self-compassion, perceived stress, anxiety, depression, nursing students, mediating effect, mental health, self-compassion training, part-time work, career prospects
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Anxiety, China, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depression, Empathy, Female, Humans, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Self Concept, Stress, Psychological, Students, Nursing, Young Adult

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