Investigating the effect of physical exercises on stress-coping strategies in nursing students: A randomized controlled trial

Background & Aims: Exercise is a tool for maintaining and promoting physical, mental, and social health, leading to improved quality of life and increased ability to cope with stress. This study aimed to investigate the effect of exercise on stress coping strategies among nursing students at Guilan University of Medical Sciences. Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted among nursing students at Guilan University of Medical Sciences in ۲۰۲۲ using convenience sampling. The sample size included ۷۶ individuals randomly divided into an intervention group (۳۸ individuals) and a control group (۳۸ individuals). The standard questionnaire developed by Folkman and Lazarus (۱۹۸۴) was used to collect data. This tool assesses coping strategies in problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for analysis, and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to determine the normality of the distribution of variables. Paired t-tests, independent t-tests, and analysis of variance were used to compare the differences in each group. Results: The mean age in the intervention and control groups was ۲۰.۹۶ ± ۱.۴۰ and ۲۱.۲۲ ± ۱.۳۰, respectively. After the educational intervention, the mean scores of the constructs of confrontation (P < ۰.۰۳), distancing (P < ۰.۰۴), self-control (P < ۰.۰۱), social support (P < ۰.۰۴), responsibility (P < ۰.۰۵), and positive reappraisal (P < ۰.۰۵) increased significantly in the intervention group compared to before the educational intervention. Participants in the support program group experienced a significant increase in problem-focused coping strategies scores compared to the control group (P < ۰.۰۵). Conclusion: This study's findings show that people who use coping strategies have very low stress compared to people who do not. Also, among the coping strategies, self-control, direct coping, and obtaining powerful social support significantly reduced stress.

کلیدواژه ها:

Exercise ، physical exercise ، stress-coping strategies ، problem-oriented ، emotion-oriented