Post-COVID-19 emotional health and academic performance in nursing students at the State University of Southern Manabi

Abstract

Emotional consequences, such as depression, anxiety, and stress, are determining factors in students' mental health and can influence their academic performance. This research aimed to analyze the emotional health and academic performance of nursing students at the Universidad Estatal del Sur de Manabí. The methodology applied was descriptive-correlational and non-experimental, cross-sectional. The results showed that the emotional consequences in nursing students; the majority maintain high psychological well-being 57.9%, with regard to depression, 61.2% do not present symptoms, anxiety, more than half present symptoms 50.4%. Stress is less frequent, with 71.9% reporting no symptoms. Academic performance is predominantly high, with 55.4% achieving a very good level, 20.7% achieving an excellent level, and 24% achieving a good level, with no average grades recorded. Analysis of the relationship between emotional consequences and academic performance indicates that there is no statistically significant association between psychological well-being, depression, anxiety, or stress and grades (p > 0.05 in all cases). Most students with very good or excellent performance have high psychological well-being and are free of depression and stress. In conclusion, it was observed that most of those who obtained excellent grades had high psychological well-being, with no symptoms of depression or stress.