Journal of Neurological, Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing

A Comparative Study to Assess Level of Academic Stress Among First Semester B.Sc. Nursing Students and First Year General Nursing and Midwifery Students in Selected Nursing Colleges of Maharashtra

2026-10-30T11:59:29+00:00

Background: Academic stress can influence a student’s academic performance, yielding both beneficial and detrimental effects based on its intensity and the students’ perceptions. Low levels of academic stress may foster positive Results, including increased motivation and enhanced task performance. Conversely, high levels of stress can lead to adverse outcomes such as Anxiety, depression, social dysfunction, and even suicidal thoughts.

Aim: The present study aimed to assess and compare the levels of academic stress among first-semester B.Sc. Nursing students and first-year General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) students in selected nursing colleges of Maharashtra and to determine the association between academic stress levels and selected demographic variables.

Materials and Methods: A quantitative comparative research design was chosen to examine and compare academic stress levels between the two groups without researcher interference. The study was conducted in selected nursing colleges within Maharashtra, targeting entry-level nursing students. A total sample size of 80 nursing students (40 first-semester B.Sc. Nursing students and 40 first-year GNM students) was selected using a non-probability convenience sampling technique based on availability and willingness to participate. The study included students who were present and willing to consent during data collection, while excluding students from other years, those absent, those unwilling to participate, or those who were sick. A structured tool divided into two sections was developed: section A gathered demographic variables, and section B utilized a modified stress assessment scale to measure stress across adjustment, academic overload, clinical exposure anxiety, and social/performance pressure.

Content validity of the tool was evaluated by 11 domain experts, achieving a Content Validity Index (CVI) of 0.99. Instrument reliability was established using the test-retest method (pilot study on 10 samples), yielding a correlation coefficient of 0.86. Formal approval was obtained from the institutional ethics committee and college authorities, and written informed consent was secured from participants while ensuring strict confidentiality.

Results: The research assessed 80 nursing participants divided evenly between first-semester B.Sc. Nursing and first-year GNM programs. Demographic analysis shows that the majority of these students were female (75.0% for B.Sc. and 95.0% for GNM) and fell within the 18 to 20 age brackets (95.0% for B.Sc. and 92.5% for GNM) and, most participants reported being single, living in nuclear family, staying in college hostels, and walking as their primary daily transport method.

Regarding the evaluation of stress levels, B.Sc. Nursing students exhibited total stress scores spanning from 36 to 93, resulting in a mean of 63.85/pm 12.50. In comparison, GNM students demonstrated stress scores between 36 and 77, with a mean of 63.07/pm 10.210.

To evaluate group differences, an independent t-test produced a mean variance of 0.775 and a test statistic of t_ {(78)} = 0.304 (p = 0.410). Because this value exceeded the standard alpha threshold, the null hypothesis was retained, confirming that overall stress levels did not vary significantly between the two educational tracks. Additionally, Chi-square evaluations established no meaningful statistical links between the participants' personal background factors—such as age, marital status, gender, living arrangements, family structure, or commuting style—and their reported stress experiences.

Conclusion: This comparative evaluation focused on determining the academic stress levels among first-semester B.Sc. Nursing students and first-year General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) candidates across selected nursing institutions in Maharashtra. The statistical analysis demonstrated no significant variation in overall academic stress levels between the two groups (t (78) = 0.304, p > 0.05), indicating that candidates in both academic programs face equivalent levels of educational pressure. Furthermore, cross-tabulation and Chi-square tests revealed no statistically significant associations between student stress scores and key sociodemographic parameters, including age, gender, marital status, family structure, residential status, or mode of daily transit. Because stress intensity remains consistent regardless of personal background or specific program track, these empirical findings highlight the necessity for nursing colleges to establish institution-wide psychological counselling, structured stress management workshops, and proactive guidance systems to enhance overall student well-being.

Effect of Box-Breathing Exercise on Stress Among Second-Year B.Sc. Nursing Students at a Selected Nursing College, Palakkad

2026-10-03T07:08:16+00:00

The present study was conducted to assess the effect of Box-Breathing Exercise on stress among second-year B.Sc. Nursing students at a selected Nursing college. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the level of stress before and after the practice of Box-Breathing Exercise among the participants. A quantitative research approach was adopted for the study. The research design used was a one-group pre-test and post-test design. The study was conducted among second-year B.Sc. Nursing students at Ahalia College of Nursing. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 35 participants who met the inclusion criteria. The tool used for data collection was a modified Perceived Stress Scale, which included domains such as physical, psychological, emotional, and behavioral aspects of stress. Content validity of the tool was established with the help of experts, and reliability was ensured prior to the main study. The pilot study was conducted to assess the feasibility of the study. Box-Breathing Exercise was administered to the participants twice daily for seven days for a duration of ten minutes, and stress levels were assessed before and after the intervention. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings of the study revealed a significant reduction in stress levels among second -year B.Sc. Nursing students after the practice of the Box-Breathing Exercise. The study implies that the Box-Breathing Exercise is an effective non-pharmacological method for reducing stress.

Psychological Outcomes of Sustained Engagement with Conversational AI Systems: A Narrative Review

2026-11-05T07:18:13+00:00

Background: Conversational Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems based on large language models have become part of everyday life, creating a new form of human–machine interaction with potential psychological consequences.

Objective: This narrative review synthesizes current literature on the psychological outcomes of sustained engagement with conversational AI, focusing on emotional attachment, cognitive offloading, dependency formation, identity development, and mental health risk, and weighs these against evidence of therapeutic benefit.

Methods: Peer-reviewed articles, preprints, clinical case reports, and institutional reports published up to mid-2026 were identified through targeted searches and synthesized thematically, with the type of evidence behind each claim reported explicitly.

Results: Sustained engagement was associated with emotional attachment, markers of cognitive offloading, and problematic use, particularly among emotionally vulnerable users, adolescents, and people with insecure attachment. In a four-week randomized controlled trial of 981 participants, voluntary usage volume, rather than assigned interaction condition, was associated with poorer psychosocial outcomes. A small set of case reports and one institutional case series link intensive use to acute psychiatric crises, but most involve pre-existing vulnerability, and none establishes incidence or causation. In contrast, randomized trials of structured therapeutic chatbots report small, mostly short-term reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms (pooled Hedges’ g of roughly 0.2–0.3 in two meta-analyses), with considerable heterogeneity and limited follow-up.

Conclusions: Psychological outcomes appear to depend on system design, pattern of use, and user vulnerability rather than on conversational AI as such. Current evidence is largely cross-sectional, short-term, or anecdotal and cannot support definitive causal claims. Longitudinal cohort studies, clinical validation of general-purpose systems, and clear ethical and regulatory frameworks are priorities for the safe integration of conversational AI into emotional and clinical support contexts.

A Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of a Planned Teaching Programme in Improving School Teachers' Knowledge About the Impact of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) on Children’s Social Skills at Selected Schools in the City

2026-10-28T09:17:08+00:00

Background: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder of childhood characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It may affect children’s social skills and overall functioning. Teachers play an important role in identifying behavioural difficulties and supporting children with ADHD. Therefore, improving teachers’ knowledge regarding ADHD and its impact on children’s social skills is essential.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of a planned teaching programme on school teachers’ knowledge regarding the effect of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder on children’s social skills. To assess the pre-test and post-test knowledge of school teachers regarding ADHD and its effect on children’s social skills.

Materials and Method: A quantitative approach with a pre-experimental one-group pre-test and post-test design was used. A total of 75 school teachers were selected using a non-probability convenience sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured knowledge questionnaire before and after the Planned Teaching Programme. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: The mean pre-test knowledge score was 8.92 ± 1.985, whereas the mean post-test knowledge score was 20.07 ± 2.440. The mean difference was 11.15, and the difference was statistically significant (paired t = 36.298, p = 0.0001). In the post-test, 78.7% of teachers had very good knowledge, 20% had good knowledge, and 1.3% had excellent knowledge.

Conclusion: The planned teaching programme was effective in improving school teachers’ knowledge regarding the effect of ADHD on children’s social skills. The findings highlight the importance of providing structured educational programmes to enhance teachers’ knowledge and understanding of ADHD and its impact on children’s social skills.

An Exploratory Study to Assess the Prevalence and Effect of Doomscrolling on Mental Health Among Young Adults in Selected Areas of District Sirmour of Himachal

2026-09-03T11:49:39+00:00

Doomscrolling refers to compulsive consumption of negative online news and has emerged as a potential mental health concern among young adults.

Aims: To assess the prevalence of doomscrolling and its effect on mental health among young adults.

Settings and Design: Quantitative exploratory research design conducted among young adults in selected areas of District Sirmour, Himachal Pradesh

Methods and Materials: A total of 283 young adults aged 18–25 years were selected using convenience sampling. Data were collected using a socio-demographic questionnaire and Modified Doomscrolling Scale.

Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and Fisher's Exact Test.

Result: The prevalence of doomscrolling was 44.9%. Most participants (88.7%) reported no perceived mental health effects, 10.2% experienced neutral/mixed effects, and 1.1% reported adverse effects. A significant positive correlation was found between doomscrolling and mental health effects (r=0.628, p<0.001). Income level was significantly associated with mental health effects.

Conclusion: Doomscrolling was prevalent among nearly half of the participants. Although most reported no perceived negative impact, increased doomscrolling was significantly associated with psychological effects, highlighting the importance of digital wellness awareness.