Longitudinal Associations of Stress, Resilience, and Well-Being in Nursing Students

BACKGROUND: Nursing students experience substantial academic and clinical demands that may impair well-being. However, longitudinal evidence on the roles of perceived stress and resilience remains limited. PURPOSE: To examine the longitudinal associations of resilience and perceived stress with well-being among nursing students. METHODS: A longitudinal study of 181 nursing students in southern Taiwan assessed well-being, resilience, and perceived stress annually using validated instruments. Multiple linear regression and generalized estimating equations were used for analysis. RESULTS: Perceived stress was consistently negatively associated with well-being, whereas resilience was positively associated with well-being, particularly in later years. Longitudinal analyses indicated that perceived stress remained a significant negative predictor, while resilience showed stronger protective effects over time. Well-being declined significantly in years 4 and 5 compared with year 2. CONCLUSIONS: Perceived stress is a stable risk factor for reduced well-being, whereas resilience plays an increasingly protective role among nursing students.