Posttraumatic growth and positive determinants in nursing students after COVID-19 alarm status: A descriptive cross-sectional study

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the relationship between posttraumatic growth (PTG), psychological flexibility, and psychological resilience of nursing students after the COVID-19 alarm status. Design and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with nursing students (N = 292) studying at a nursing school of a university. The data collection instruments included a form on descriptive variables, and the PTG, psychological flexibility, and psychological resilience scales. Descriptive statistics, independent-samples t test, ANOVA, correlation, simple, and hierarchical linear regression analyses were used to analyze the data. Findings: The mean scores regarding psychological flexibility, psychological resilience, and PTG were 27.56 ± 11.06, 18.10 ± 5.75, and 63.49 ± 20.64, respectively. While psychological flexibility explained 36.7% of the total variance in psychological resilience, the predictive effect of seven descriptive variables, including psychological flexibility and psychological resilience, on PTG was determined as 13.4%. Practice Implications: PTG, psychological flexibility, and psychological resilience may help nursing students prepare for their transition to the profession.