Factors associated with mental health of graduate nursing students in China

The increasing number of graduate nursing students in China has resulted in the wide concern for their mental health problems. Quantitative studies using validated questionnaires on mental health of graduate nursing students are rare. This study aimed to investigate the factors potentially involved in the level of mental health of graduate nursing students. The sample consisted of 339 graduate nursing students from 5 universities of China. The participants were evaluated using the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) and Chinese Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS) between March and November 2020. Multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis and spearman correlation test were performed to assess the association between various factors associated with mental health. The SCL-90 total score was 109.00 (96.00 –134.00) and psychological abnormalities (total score > 160) accounted for 14.2%. The highest score in the nine dimensions was compulsion dimension. The positive detection rate of compulsion dimension was 21.5% (dimensions score > 2),and the average of compulsion score was 1.50(1.20 –2.00). Multivariable stepwise linear regression analysis showed that grade, environmental adaptation level, number of good friends were independently associated with lower SCL-90 scores (both P < .05). SCL-90 scores were correlated with Chinese Perceived Stress Scale (r = .159, P = .003). Results indicate that learning about ways to adapt to the environment, strengthening good friends support and alleviating perceived stress can help improve graduate nursing students’ level of mental health. The conclusions of this study can provide a reference to improve the psychological intervention strategies for graduate nursing students.