Nursing students, mental health status during COVID-19 quarantine: evidence from three European countries

Abstract

Background

The SARS-CoV2 pandemic obligated most of the European countries to implement strict measures and lockdowns to minimize the spread of the virus. Universities closed and on-line classes started. However, COVID-19 epidemic has significant impact on mental health of population.

Aim

To assess depression level of nursing students (undergraduate and master) in Greece, Spain and Albania during COVID-19 pandemic as well as to identify possible determinants of depression level.

Methods

A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted between April and May 2020. An on-line questionnaire was used to collect the data. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was used to evaluate the depression levels of nursing students.

Results

Seven hundred and eighty-seven nursing students participated in the study out of which 83.9% were of female gender, 92.9% single and 94.7% lived with others. One third of the nursing student population experienced mild depression, with higher depression levels noted for Spanish students (59.1%) followed by Albanian (34.5%) and Greek (21.8%) students. Multivariate linear regression analysis identified that Spanish students experienced more depression than Greek and Albanian (p < 0.001). Also, decreased age was associated with increased depression.

Conclusion

The impact of lockdown and quarantine on nursing students mental health is clear. Provision of university based mental health interventions should be a priority.

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• depression
• mental health
• nursing students

Acknowledgements

The authors warmly thank all students that participated in the study.

Ethical approval

Ethical approval was received in all countries for conducting the current study. Participation was voluntarily and all participants gave their consent to complete the questionnaire. No personal data were recorded. All data collected were used only for the purposes of this study.

Author contributions

AP, EAM and EP designed the study. PG analyzed the statistical data. All other authors contributed to the data collection. AP, EAM and EP prepared a first draft. All authors reviewed the article and provided comments. The final version of this article was accepted by all authors post revisions.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).