Mental health challenges and academic strain among nursing students in Spain during the COVID-19 health emergency: A cross-sectional study

The COVID-19 pandemic, declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization, significantly impacted Spain, straining its National Health System and disrupting daily life, including education. Undergraduate nursing students faced particular challenges due to the shift to online learning and the demands of clinical placements. This study aimed to assess the academic engagement and the presence of anxiety and fear of COVID-19 in undergraduate Nursing students in Spain. The study employed an observational, cross-sectional design using an online questionnaire disseminated between October 2021 and May 2022. A non-probabilistic snowball sampling technique was used to recruit 1197 students from across Spain. The questionnaire included socio-demographic variables, personal COVID-19 experiences, the anxiety and fear of COVID-19 scale to measure anxiety and fear, and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (student version) to assess academic engagement. This study found significant levels of anxiety and fear among the students. Females reported higher scores on the anxiety and fear of COVID-19 scale compared to males. Higher levels of anxiety and fear were also observed in students who considered themselves part of a risk group and those who perceived a lack of sufficient self-protection measures during clinical placements. Interestingly, students who had received multiple doses of the COVID-19 vaccine also reported higher levels of anxiety and fear. Students in the final stages of their studies showed reduced academic engagement. The study highlights the need for universities to implement mental health support strategies for nursing students. It also emphasizes the importance of improved public policies to ensure the availability of personal protective equipment and adequate training in infection control for students during clinical placements. Addressing the emotional well-being of future healthcare professionals is crucial.