Health Behaviours and the Sense of Optimism in Nursing Students in Poland, Spain and Slovakia during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

(1) The COVID-19 outbreak brought about several socio-economic changes and has had a negative impact on the mental health of people around the world. The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between health behaviours and dispositional optimism among nursing students in Poland, Spain and Slovakia during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) The study was carried out in spring 2021 on a group of 756 nursing students in Poland (n = 390), Spain (n = 196) and Slovakia (n = 170). The diagnostic survey method was applied with the questionnaire technique, and the following standardised research tools were used: Life Orientation Test—Revised (LOT-R) and the Health Behaviour Inventory (IZZ). The survey was conducted in a mixed arrangement: in direct contact with the respondents in Poland and in Spain and online in Slovakia. (3) Significant differences were demonstrated in health behaviour preferences in students in Poland, Spain and Slovakia (F = 0.04; p < 0.002). The highest IZZ index was found in Spanish students (82.60 ± 13.65), while lower values were observed in Slovak (80.38 ± 13.74) and Polish (78.44 ± 13.47) students. The correlation between dispositional optimism and a positive attitude was the strongest in the Polish sample (r = 0.56; p < 0.001), at a high level in the Spanish sample (r = 0.53; p < 0.001) and at an average level in the Slovak sample (r = 0.48; p < 0.001). (4) 1. The study showed a moderating effect of the country of origin on the students’ health behaviours. 2. Dispositional optimism is an important predictor of the students’ health behaviours, regardless of the country of origin.

Health Behaviours among Nursing Students in Poland during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…This study's findings indicate that nearly half of the respondents (48.43%) had scores indicating a low intensity of general health behaviours, which may provide grounds for further studies on the factors that stimulate individuals to take up health behaviours (so-called "health-related motives"). Students from Spain and Slovakia participating in a different study on health behaviours had a higher percentage of results at a higher level than students from Poland [25]. When comparing the current results with the data gathered by other authors on health behaviours, a certain differentiation can be observed.…”

Religiosity, stress, and depressive symptoms among nursing and medical students during the middle stage of the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study in Morocco

“…Furthermore, Sakellari et al investigated the correlation between health behaviors and dispositional optimism among nursing students in Poland, Spain, and Slovakia during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study showed that characteristic optimism is an important predictor of students' health behaviors (40). Further studies have reported that extra-curricular activities such as membership in hobbies clubs, cultural clubs, and sports clubs were shown to play a key role in developing interest and reducing stress in a student's life (35,36).…”

Loneliness and Satisfaction with Life among Nursing Students in Poland, Spain and Slovakia during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…This study is part of an international research project executed within the framework of one of the researcher’s (E.K.) scientific internship programme [ 28 , 32 ]. This project was given a favourable opinion (No.…”

“…A total of 756 nursing students participated in the study, including 390 in Poland (51.59%), 196 in Spain (25.93%) and 170 in Slovakia (22.49%) [ 28 , 32 ]. The mean participant age was 21.20 years (SD = 1.97).…”