Factors related to the mental health of nursing students during the fourth wave of COVID-19 in Vietnam

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, all health workforces, including nursing students, were mobilized to prevent the spread of the disease. The physical and mental health of frontline healthcare workers has been shown to have several adverse effects during the COVID-19 outbreak. However, few studies analyzed the mental health of nursing students participating in COVID-19 prevention, especially in Vietnam.
Objective: The study was to identify and analyze the mental health of students and its related factors during the fourth wave of COVID-19 in Vietnam.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 672 nursing students participating in COVID-19 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from September to October 2021. Self-administered and online-based surveys were used to collect data using Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9),and the Insomnia Severity Index. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were done for data analysis using R 3.6.0 software.
Results: Among our participants, the proportion of depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and insomnia were 2.88%, 5.1%, and 4.33%, respectively. Students who had physical activity habits before involvement in COVID-19 and maintained physical activity while participating in the epidemic had lower symptoms of anxiety, depression, and the risk of sleep disturbances. Furthermore, students with healthy diet status had fewer negative consequences on their mental health.
Conclusions: Our findings provided evidence for organizations strategizing to preserve the emotional health of nursing students while engaging in the COVID-19 campaign.