TThe Effects of a Stress Management Program on Stress Levels of First Year Nursing Students, Boromarajonani College of Nursing, Khon Kaen

Abstract

         This quasi-experimental, single-group, pre- and post-program study aimed to examine the effects of a stress management program on the stress levels of nursing students. The sample consisted of 125 first-year nursing students from Boromarajonani College of Nursing, Khon Kaen, who scored 27 or higher on the Department of Mental Health's Stress Assessment (DMA) in the Bachelor of Nursing Science Program, academic year 2023. The experimental instrument used was a stress management program, which included music relaxation, exercise, adaptation strategies, and counseling. Content validity was tested, with a IOC of 0.70 and a reliability of 0.80. The sample used the stress management program for three weeks, three times a week, for a total of nine 45-minute sessions. The study was conducted between October and December 2023. Data were collected using a self-assessment form from the Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Public Health. Data were analyzed using percentages, means, and standard deviations. Paired t-tests were used to compare stress levels before and after participating in the program.

           The results revealed that the average scores of nursing students were significantly higher than those of the previous year. Before participating in the stress management program, the mean score was 29.44 (S.D. = 4.74), while after participating in the program, the mean score was 9.37 (S.D. = 5.99) significantly (t = 14.44, p < .001). It can be concluded that the sample group had reduced stress after using the stress management program, with scores significantly lower than before participating in the experiment.