Nursing students' trait mindfulness and psychological stress: A correlation and mediation analysis

Background

Nursing students face a great amount of psychological stress during their nursing education. Mindfulness-based training has received increased recognition from nurse educators regarding its effect on reducing students' psychological stress. Study evidence has supported that cultivation of trait mindfulness through Mindfulness-based training was the key to this effect. However, there is a lack of research that focuses on intricate relationships between various facets of trait mindfulness and psychological stress.
Objective

Examining the relationships between various trait mindfulness facets and psychological stress.
Design

A cross-sectional design was used to collect data on trait mindfulness facets and psychological stress.
Participants

A convenience sample of 99 undergraduate nursing students from a Bachelor of Nursing program completed this study.
Setting

This study was conducted in a university in the south-eastern United States.
Method

Participants completed an online questionnaire, which collected their demographic information, trait mindfulness (the Five Factor Mindfulness Questionnaire), and psychological stress (the Perceived Stress Scale-10). Correlation and mediation analyses were applied.
Results

Other than the trait mindfulness facet of observing, the remaining three facets (acting with awareness, non-judging, and non-reactivity) were negatively correlated with psychological stress. Observing had little to low correlations with non-judging and acting with awareness, but attained a moderately positive correlation with non-reactivity. Moreover, observing could indirectly predict psychological stress, when non-reactivity served as a mediator. Finally, non-judging partially mediated the relationship between acting with awareness and psychological stress.
Conclusions

The results of the current study can help nurse educators better understand the intricate relationships between various facets of trait mindfulness and psychological stress. Specifically, facets of acting with awareness, non-judging, and non-reactivity are directly relevant to the reduction of psychological stress. Therefore, regardless of formal or informal practices of mindfulness, nurse educators ought to assist students in cultivating these facets as means toward stress management.