Post-pandemic emotional well-being and coping strategies in Moroccan nursing students and professional nurses

¹ UAE/U24FS, FS, Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, Tetouan, Morocco
² University Hassan First of Settat, Higher Institute of Health Sciences, Complexe Universitaire, route de Casablanca BP 555, 26 000, Settat, Morocco
³ Ibn Tofail University, Faculty of Sciences, BP 133, 14 000 Kenitra, Morocco
⁴ Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica Silva Henríquez, Santiago 8240000, Chile
⁵ Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Arturo Prat, Victoria 4720000, Chile
⁶ High Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques, Fez, Morocco

^* Corresponding author: sfendla@chopy.org

Abstract

Emotional well-being and effective coping mechanisms are essential aspects of healthcare practice, especially during a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected during the COVID-19 pandemic to evaluate emotional responses and coping strategies among nursing students and professional nurses. A total of 118 participants were included in the study, surveys included sociodemographic variables, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Scale (PANAS), and the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (COPE). Statistical analyses were conducted to identify differences in emotional responses and coping strategies and to explore potential correlations between these variables. This study found no gender-based differences in emotional responses among nurses and nursing students. However, professional nurses exhibited more positive emotions (M = 32.87, SD = 4.92) and fewer negative emotions (M = 18.90, SD = 4.52) compared to students (M = 30.44, SD = 7.04 and M = 22.24, SD = 5.75, respectively). Women scored higher in denial (M = 4.70, SD = 0.77) but lower in behavioral disengagement (M = 4.14, SD = 1.26) and humor (M = 3.90, SD = 1.20) compared to men. Regarding coping strategies, professional nurses used self-distraction (M = 5.53, SD = 1.36), instrumental support (M = 5.44, SD = 1.18), venting (M = 4.23, SD = 1.09), and acceptance (M = 5.75, SD = 1.54) more than nursing students. Positive emotional responses were positively associated with approach coping for professional nurses (r =0.261, p < 0.05) and for nursing students (r = 0.423, p < 0.01) and with avoidant coping for the entire sample (r = 0.275, p < 0.01) and nursing students (r = 0.378, p < 0.05). In the light of these results, it is essential to provide the necessary crisis support for both profiles.