Prevalencia de ansiedad y estrés en estudiantes de la Carrera de Enfermería de la Universidad de Cuenca, 2023

Abstract

Background: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), anxiety is defined as a feeling of fear and worry, classified as excessive or intense. Meanwhile, stress is a condition that involves sensations such as worry or mental tension caused by a situation that generates uncertainty, which implies changes both physiologically and emotionally. These issues are present among nursing students due to the inherent nature and demand for efficiency of the career. Aim: determine the prevalence of anxiety and stress among nursing students at the University of Cuenca, 2023. Methodology: A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with a population of 325 nursing students. The Hamilton Anxiety Scale and the SISCO Inventory for stress were utilized. EPIINFO software was used for data analysis and tabulation. The results are presented through simple descriptive tables. Results: the prevalent age range was between 20 to 32 years old; 83.1% were female; 95.5% were single; 65.8% lived with immediate family members, and 58.5% belonged to the lower class. The most frequent level of anxiety observed among participating students was categorized as very severe, at 51.1%, while 74.65% exhibited moderate stress. Conclusions: the outcomes of this research demonstrate that nursing students at the University of Cuenca experience levels of anxiety and stress ranging from moderate to very severe