New Faculty Research Expert: Jennifer Adair – Examining Coping Strategies and Stress in Psychiatric Nursing Students

A new study by Jennifer Adair, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatric Nursing at Brandon University, sheds light on the complex relationship between coping strategies, stress levels, and mental health distress among psychiatric nursing students. Her thesis, Coping Strategies Used by Psychiatric Nursing Students and Their Relationship with Stress Levels and General Health: Does Social Desirability Play a Role?, explores how adaptive and maladaptive coping mechanisms impact students’ well-being and whether social desirability influences these patterns.

The study, which surveyed psychiatric nursing students from BU and Douglas College found that increased use of maladaptive coping strategies was significantly associated with higher stress and mental health distress scores. Surprisingly, no significant relationship was found between adaptive coping strategies and stress or distress levels. Additionally, while social desirability did not appear to mediate the link between coping and stress, students who engaged in more maladaptive coping strategies reported lower levels of social desirability.

“These findings highlight the importance of integrating emotional regulation and self-efficacy training into psychiatric nursing education,” said Adair. “By embedding strategies that reduce reliance on maladaptive coping, we may be able to support students’ psychological well-being, improve retention in the field, and ultimately enhance patient care.”

Adair’s research uncovered several compelling insights into the stressors and coping strategies of psychiatric nursing students:

• Clinical sources of stress scored significantly lower than academic and personal sources. This trend persisted across all years of study, suggesting that while students may feel anxious about clinical experiences, they ultimately find them less stressful than other aspects of the program.
• The highest-rated stress scale items were “lack of free time” and “amount of classwork to be learned.”
• 93% of students reported that they “took things one step at a time,” making it by far the most commonly used coping strategy.
• Only 30% of students reported that they “got professional help and did what they recommended,” the least endorsed coping strategy.
• 74% of respondents reported feeling “constantly under strain,” yet nearly the same percentage also reported feeling hopeful about their future (70%) and that they “are playing a useful part in things” (75%).

Dr. Bernadette Ardelli, Vice-President of Research and Graduate Studies at BU, emphasized the significance of Adair’s research.

“Psychiatric nursing is a demanding field, and Jennifer’s work provides crucial insights into how we can better prepare students to manage stress effectively,” Dr. Ardelli said. “This research has the potential to shape future curriculum and improve student success.”

Adair expressed deep gratitude to those who supported her research.

“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to my thesis advisor, Dr. Phillip Goernert, and my thesis committee members, Dr. Kathryn Chachula and Professor Leslie Penner, for their invaluable guidance throughout this process,” she said. “I am also incredibly grateful to the psychiatric nursing students who took the time to complete the survey. Your willingness to share your experiences made this research possible.”

Adair holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Manitoba, a Bachelor of Science in Psychiatric Nursing from BU, and a Master of Psychiatric Nursing from BU. She has experience in adult inpatient mental health and addictions services and now counsels clients in private practice alongside her role as an educator.

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