Psychological Flexibility, Mindfulness and Perceived Social Support as Predictors of Psychological Symptoms among Nursing Faculty Students at Mansoura University

Abstract

College students are often experience increased stress and anxiety, that increases the risk of depressive symptoms. Aim: Investigate the role of psychological flexibility, mindfulness traits, and perceived social support as predictors of psychological symptoms. Methods: The current study employed a descriptive cross-sectional approach. The study was done in nursing faculty, Mansoura University. The number of participants in this study was 551.Four tools were used: Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). Results: indicates that (18.7%) of nursing students experience mild to severe depressive symptoms. Whereas, (69.9%) of them had high psychological flexibility, (30.1%) had low psychological flexibility and there is a positive significant correlation between psychological flexibility and depressive symptoms. On the other hand, there is a negative correlation between mindfulness and perceived social support and depressive symptoms. Conclusion: This study concluded that, psychological flexibility, mindfulness traits, and perceived social support act as predictors of depressive symptoms. Recommendations: This work may have important implications for clinical training and practice, college students may benefit from mindfulness-based interventions for enhancing psychological flexibility, consequently decreasing the risk for depressive disorders.