ACADEMIC STRESS, MENTAL HEALTH AND COPING MECHANISMS AMONGNURSING STUDENTS IN A TERTIARY INSTITUTION IN BENINCITY

Academic stress is a significant challenge in nursing education, affecting students' mental health, academic performance, and professional development. Understanding stress levels, contributing factors, and coping mechanisms is essential for developing effective support interventions. This study assessed the level of academic stress, identified contributing factors, and examined coping mechanisms among nursing students in a tertiary institution in Benin City, Edo State. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 252 undergraduate nursing students(200-500 level) at the University of Benin using structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. Students experienced moderate overall academic stress (grand mean = 2.77), with high stress levels related to overwhelming workload, meeting deadlines, and financial demands. Major contributing factors included limited time for tasks (91.2%), large workload (84.5%), frequent examinations (79.7%), and poor time management (80.9%). Effective coping mechanisms included spiritual engagement (mean = 3.88), time management (mean = 3.84), and social support (mean = 3.12), while professional counseling services were significantly underutilized(mean = 1.70). Maladaptive coping strategies, such as substance abuse, were rarely employed. Nursing students experience considerable academic stress, requiring a comprehensive institutional
interventions including workload management, mental health awareness, accessible counseling services, and integration of stress management training into nursing curricula.