The Effects of Stress and Anxiety on Depression in Nursing Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among stress, anxiety, and depression in nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify the factors affecting depression. Study subjects were 445 nursing students from a college located in J city. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS/WIN 23.0 by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis. The results showed that there was a significant positive correlation between stress and depression in nursing college students(r=.616, p<.001), and between anxiety and depression(r=.470, p<.001). The regression model to identify factors affecting depression was significant(F=35.507, p<.001). The factors most influencing the subject’s depression were stress(ß=.470, p<.001), anxiety(ß=.201, p<.001), satisfaction with college life(ß=.141, p=003), smoking(ß=.140, p<.001), satisfaction with Major(ß=-.090, p=.037). There were found to be significant predictors of these variables and had an explanatory power of 46.1%. Based on these study results, it is necessary to actively strive to improve nursing students’ mental health and find ways to cope with and overcome their stress by developing various programs to reduce depression and anxiety.