Abstract

Stress among nursing students is a growing concern, as the demanding nature of nursing education exposes students to multiple academic, clinical, and psychosocial stressors. This study examined perceived stress levels and coping strategies among nursing students in selected training institutions in Ogun State. A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted. A total of 301 nursing students were selected using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire adapted from the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and a coping strategies inventory. The PSS demonstrated a Cronbach's alpha of 0.85, while the coping scale yielded 0.76. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests, and findings were presented in frequency and percentage tables. Findings revealed that 20.3% of respondents experienced low stress, 39.2% moderate stress, and 40.5% high stress, indicating a high prevalence of moderate-to-high stress. Major stressors included examination pressure (94.4%), parenting issues (90%). Students adopted various coping strategies, including problem-focused strategies such as time management (65.1%); emotion-focused strategies such as listening to music (55.8%); and spiritual coping strategies such as prayer (65.1%). There was no significant relationship between age and perceived stress levels (x² = 8.41, p = 0.078). The findings showed the substantial psychological demands faced by nursing students and the diverse coping mechanisms employed. Institutional interventions such as structured stress management programs, mentorship, and strengthened support systems are recommended to enhance coping capacity, improve well-being, and promote academic performance.

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