Abstract

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothetical model designed to explain nursing students' perceived stress, coping levels, and stress outcomes. This hypothetical model was based on the Kim. Jung Hee(l987)' s stress model and stress-related literature. Exogenous variables were self-efficacy. hardiness. social support. and exercise. Endogenous variables were stress perception. coping levels. and stress outcomes. Empirical data for testing the hypothetical model consisted of 205 nursing students. SAS PC Program and LISREL 8.12a program were used for descriptive statistics and linear structural relationship(LISREL) modeling. The results were as follows. 1) The overall fit of the hypothetical model to the data was good(chi2=78.41(p=0.010), chi2/df=1.50. RMSEA=0.05, standardized RMR=0.05, GFI=0.95, AGFI=0.91, NNFI=0.90, NFI=0.94). 2) The results of statistical testing of the hypotheses were as follows. (1)As expected. self-efficacy had a significant effect on stress perception. But. hardiness. social support, and exercise did not have a significant effect on stress perception. Self-efficacy, hardiness. social support, and exercise explained 12% of the total variance of stress perception. (2) As expected, self-efficacy, hardiness, social support, exercise, and stress perception had a significant effect on coping behavior, Self-efficacy, hardiness, social support, exercise, and stress perception explained 53% of the total variance of coping behavior. (3) As expected, stress perception and coping behavior had a significant effect on stress outcomes. Stress perception and coping behavior explained 84% of the total variance of stress outcomes. In conclusion, the hypothetical model of this study was confirmed in explaining and predicting stress perception, coping levels, and stress outcomes in nursing students. And these findings suggest the need to develop nursing intervention to enhance self-efficacy, hardiness, social support, and exercise to decrease the harmful outcomes of stress.