Factors Affecting the Anxiety of Level II Nursing Students of Perpetual Help College of Manila and its Contribution to their Coping Styles in the Pediatric Ward

Abstract

Anxiety is an instinctive state of mind triggered by circumstances, affecting cognitive, psychomotor, and physiological responses, particularly during initial clinical experiences and unfamiliar settings. Numerous studies on various aspects of anxiety have occurred across diverse outlets, the linkage between stressors and coping mechanisms remains underexplored. This study aims to identify the connection between anxiety-inducing factors and its effect on coping styles among second-year nursing students during their first pediatric rotation. A total of 193 students participated in the study, with 163 in the main data collection and 30 in the pilot test. Using a quantitative-correlational research design, the researchers gathered data through a validated three-part Likert-scale questionnaire on factors affecting anxiety, and coping styles, including demographics. Data were analyzed using SPSS. For all the categories, all p-values were greater than 0.05, resulting in the failure to reject the null hypothesis. This indicates that there is no statistically significant connection between these anxiety factors and the coping strategies employed by respondents. Despite students reporting anxiety during their initial clinical experience, their coping strategies did not show a significant correlation with any specific stressor. This implies that clinical stress may arise from multiple, interconnected factors rather than single, isolated sources. Research gaps were also found, leading the researchers to recommend further study. Additionally, the inclusion of a “neutral” option in the Likert scale should be carefully considered in future studies.