Flourishing in nursing: positive factors that contributed to mental wellbeing of nursing students in Thailand.

Objectives: To explore post-pandemic mental wellbeing status and identify positive factors influencing mental wellbeing among nursing students.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of undergraduate nursing students from three public colleges in Thailand was conducted. A convenience sample of 983 participants completed a paper questionnaire.

Results: The mental wellbeing mean score was 43.67 (SD=6.75, possible range of 10-60). Mental wellbeing was negatively associated with participant's age and class level while positively associated with income, BMI, exercise hours/week, sleep hours/day, academic support, perceived social support, community involvement, and grit. Using hierarchical multiple regression, six significant predictors were identified: income, sleep hours/day, academic support, perceived social support, community involvement, and grit. These predictors combined explained 44 % of the variance, F(11, 722)=55.97, p<0.001, adjusted R²=0.44.

Conclusions: To promote mental wellbeing of nursing students, colleges should explore how to increase academic support, encourage healthy habits in students, and enhance their community involvement.