Academic stress, COVID‐19 anxiety, and quality of life among nursing students: The mediating role of resilience

AIM: This study investigated the mediating role of resilience in the relationship between academic stress, COVID-19 anxiety, and quality of life (QoL) among Filipino nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the QoL of nursing students who are experiencing mental health issues. The mediating role of resilience in mitigating the effects of academic stress and COVID-19 anxiety on nursing students' QoL remains understudied. METHODS: This study employed a correlational cross-sectional design, with a convenience sample of 611 Filipino nursing students. Data were collected using the scales Connor and Davidson Resilience, Brunnsviken Brief Quality of Life, COVID-19 Anxiety, and Perception of Academic Stress and analyzed using Pearson's r, bivariate analysis, and multistage regression analyses. RESULTS: Academic stress and COVID-19 anxiety negatively correlated with QoL and resilience. Resilience was positively associated with QoL and reduced the effect of academic stress on QoL, indicating that resilience is a crucial mediating variable between academic stress and QoL. Finally, resilience had a significant mediating influence on QoL, as evidenced by a reduction in the effect of COVID-19 anxiety on QoL among nursing students. CONCLUSIONS: Filipino nursing students' QoL was affected by academic stress and COVID-19-related anxiety. However, resilience mediated this impact, preserving QoL. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY: Nursing colleges and affiliated hospitals must collaborate to monitor academic stress and pandemic-related anxiety. Nursing students should be provided with programs such as seminars and team-building activities to enhance their resilience.