Observational study on anxiety symptoms in nursing students at an Italian university

Introduction: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of anxiety symptoms among nursing students at the University of Palermo in Italy, and to identify factors associated with these symptoms. Material and methods: The study was carried out in April 2024. It utilised a cross-sectional design. The study population consisted of nursing students at the University of Palermo and supplementary year students. The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) questionnaire was administered to assess the severity of anxiety symptoms. An ordered logistic regression was performed, with ‘anxious symptoms’ as the dependent variable, to evaluate the influence of the questionnaire’s variables. Results: Regarding the ordered logistic regression, the statistically significant aORs for the BAI test included: increasing age (aOR = 0.95), female gender (aOR = 2.67), being overweight (aOR = 0.63), advancing year of study, unemployment (aOR = 1.88), being a smoker (aOR = 1.87), perceiving an average or low state of health, lack of regular physical activity (aOR = 1.54), and experiencing sleep disturbances in the last two weeks (aOR = 2.60). Conclusions: Anxiety symptoms among nursing students represent a significant public health concern, with far-reaching implications for both student career success and patient care. By addressing the various factors contributing to anxiety among nursing students, educators, administrators, and healthcare professionals can develop tailored interventions to support student well-being and optimise learning outcomes.