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. 2025 May 6;22(5):735.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph22050735.

Mental Health and Resilience in Nursing Students: A Longitudinal Study

William Donegá Martinez  1 , Tiago Casaleiro  2 , João Daniel de Souza Menezes  1 , Matheus Querino da Silva  1 , Emerson Roberto Dos Santos  1 , Rauer Ferreira Franco  3 , Alex Bertolazzo Quiterio  1 , Thales Guardia de Barros  1 , Ana Julia de Deus Silva  1 , Luiz Otávio Maciel Lopes  4 , Sônia Maria Maciel Lopes  1 , Natalia Almeida de Arnaldo Silva Rodriguez Castro  1 , Camila Aline Lázaro  5 , Maria Laura Fabris  1 , Josimerci Ittavo Lamana Faria  6 , Fernando Nestor Facio Júnior  1 , Maria Helena Pinto  6 , Daniele Alcalá Pompeo  6 , Denise Cristina Móz Vaz Oliani  6   7 , Antônio Hélio Oliani  6   7 , Neuza Alves Bonifácio  8   9 , Loiane Letícia Dos Santos  1 , Marco Antonio Ribeiro Filho  1 , Gerardo Maria de Araújo Filho  6 , Nádia Antônia Aparecida Poletti  6 , Luís Cesar Fava Spessoto  6 , Natália Sperli Geraldes Marin Dos Santos Sasaki  6 , Aparecida de Fátima Michelin  8 , Sabrina Ramires Sakamoto  10 , Maysa Alahmar Bianchin  1 , Vânia Maria Sabadoto Brienze  1 , Alba Regina de Abreu Lima  1 , Rita de Cássia Helú Mendonça Ribeiro  6 , Júlio César André  1
Affiliations

Mental Health and Resilience in Nursing Students: A Longitudinal Study

William Donegá Martinez et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Mental health challenges are increasingly prevalent among young individuals, particularly within high-stress academic environments such as nursing education. Resilience is critical for maintaining well-being and adapting to university demands.

Objective: To assess resilience levels in first-year nursing students at FAMERP (Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto) upon entry in 2021 and their longitudinal evolution in 2022 and 2023, using the Wagnild and Young Resilience Scale. The study also aims to explore the implications for mental health promotion in young healthcare professionals.

Methods: A descriptive, longitudinal, prospective, and quantitative study was conducted with 40 students. Data collection was performed via electronic forms and analyzed using descriptive statistics and specific tests within the R programming language.

Results: The predominantly female sample, with a mean age of 19.5 years, exhibited moderate to high resilience levels: mean scores of 132.5 (2021), 135.8 (2022), and 139.2 (2023). A significant reduction in the Perseverance factor (p = 0.0131) was noted. There was a positive correlation between age and resilience scores (r = 0.42; p < 0.01).

Discussion: Despite a slight overall increase in resilience, the decline in Perseverance is concerning, indicating potential growing mental health challenges as students progress. Small age differences significantly influence mental health outcomes. This decline may be related to increased academic stress, exposure to emotionally challenging clinical situations, and the cumulative effects of the "costs of caring".

Conclusions: Nursing students exhibit promising resilience levels, yet there is a critical need for interventions targeting Perseverance to enhance academic performance and patient care quality. Social Impact: This study contributes to the development of educational strategies designed to promote resilience, thereby potentially improving the mental health and academic performance of nursing students. By focusing on mental well-being, a more resilient healthcare workforce can be cultivated and better prepared to meet systemic challenges.

Keywords: health promotion; mental health; nursing education; nursing students; psychological adaptation; psychological resilience; young adults.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Self-Reliance scores across the three years of the study (2021–2023) demonstrate the stability of this resilience factor. (n = 40, FAMERP, 2025).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Perseverance scores across the three years of the study (2021–2023) illustrate the significant decrease in this factor. (n = 40, FAMERP, 2025).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Comparison of Self-Reliance by Sex, indicating no significant differences between groups. (n = 40, FAMERP, 2025).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Comparison of Perseverance by Type of Entry into FAMERP, demonstrating higher scores for students entering through the PIMESP program (Inclusion Program with Merit in Public Higher Education of São Paulo State). (n = 40, FAMERP, 2025).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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