Anxiety and depressive symptoms among nursing students of Manipal college of medical sciences (Nursing programme), Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal

Nursing students suffer high levels of anxiety and depression during their education experiences. Clinical training and first exposure in hospital clinical training field more anxious than class experiences.

The objective of the study was to assess anxiety and depressive symptoms among nursing students of Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal and to assess the association between level of anxiety, depressive symptoms and socio-demographic status.

Descriptive study has been conducted to assess anxiety and depressive symptoms among the nursing students of Manipal College of Medical Sciences (Nursing Programme), Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal. The tools were socio-demographic proforma, Standardized Beck Depression Inventory, Standardized Beck Anxiety Inventory. Data were collected by self administered questionnaire regarding anxiety and depressive symptoms among the nursing students. Data were collected from 19^th July to 26^th July 2016. Total sample size was 171 nursing students and sampling technique used was purposive sampling. The data was analyzed using Excel 2007, Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for windows version 17.0.

More than half 56.1% of students were of age group 19–21 years, majority of 83.0% were Hindu, most 68.4% of the students from P.C.L Nursing where as 31.6% students from B. Sc. Nursing, most 74.9% of students from nuclear family, majority 87.1% students were from urban area. According to Kuppuswamy's Socio-demographic status most 63.7% of the students were middle upper class. Less than half 39.80% of nursing students had mild-moderate depression. Most of the 69.60% nursing students had moderate level of anxiety. There is a significant correlation r=0.585 between anxiety and depressive symptoms at the significant level 0.01.

Nursing students have moderate level of anxiety and mild-moderate level of depressive symptoms.