Background
Theoretical background
Stress perception among student midwives
Coping behaviors among student midwives
Work-privacy conflict among student midwives
Perceived impact of COVID-19 pandemic on studies
Study aims
Methods
Study design and recruitment process
Variables
Sociodemographic and study-related variables
Stress perception
Coping behaviors
Work-privacy conflict
Perceived impact of COVID-19 pandemic on studies
Data analysis
Results
Characteristics of study sample
Variables | n | % |
---|---|---|
Gender | 342 | |
Female | 339 | 99.1 |
Male | 1 | 0.3 |
Other | 2 | 0.6 |
Age* | 338 | |
≤ 20 years | 35 | 10.3 |
21–25 years | 185 | 54.0 |
26–30 years | 71 | 20.8 |
31–35 years | 27 | 7.9 |
36–40 years | 10 | 3.0 |
≥ 41 years | 10 | 3.0 |
Migration background | 342 | |
Yes | 40 | 11.7 |
No | 302 | 88.3 |
Marital status | 341 | |
Single | 288 | 84.2 |
Married | 45 | 13.2 |
Divorced | 7 | 2.0 |
Registered partnership | 1 | 0.3 |
Parenthood | 342 | |
Children | 51 | 14.9 |
No children | 291 | 85.1 |
Highest level of education | 342 | |
High school | 195 | 57.0 |
Vocational training | 84 | 24.6 |
Bachelor | 43 | 12.6 |
Master | 17 | 4.7 |
Diploma | 3 | 0.9 |
PhD | 0 | 0.0 |
Training level | 341 | |
2nd semester | 1 | 0.3 |
3rd semester | 152 | 44.4 |
4th semester | 27 | 7.9 |
5th semester | 120 | 35.1 |
6th semester | 10 | 2.9 |
7th semester | 29 | 8.5 |
8th semester | 1 | 0.3 |
Vacation semester | 1 | 0.3 |
Type of study program | 341 | |
Primary qualifying | 253 | 74.0 |
Supplementary qualifying | 81 | 23.7 |
Post-qualifying | 7 | 2.0 |
Main results
Stress perception, coping behaviors and work-privacy conflict of student midwives
Variables | M | SD | Range | Min | Max | α |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stress perception during theoretical study stage (n = 342) | 2.42 | 0.84 | 0–4 | 0 | 4 | / |
Stress perception during practical study stage (n = 342) | 3.12 | 0.83 | 0–4 | 0 | 4 | / |
Stress perception (n = 335) (Stress perception total scores) | 2.22 (22.22) | 0.66 (6.59) | 0–4 (4–16) | 0.6 (6) | 4 (40) | 0.89 |
Positive thinking1 (n = 338) | 9.61 | 2.21 | 4–16 | 4 | 16 | 0.71 |
Active stress coping1 (n = 337) | 10.72 | 2.01 | 4–16 | 4 | 16 | 0.73 |
Social support1 (n = 337) | 13.76 | 2.19 | 4–16 | 4 | 16 | 0.83 |
Support in faith1 (n = 337) | 7.47 | 2.69 | 4–16 | 4 | 16 | 0.76 |
Alcohol and cigarette consumption2 (n = 339) | 5.79 | 2.33 | 4–16 | 4 | 16 | 0.75 |
Work-privacy conflict (n = 340) | 66.10 | 19.88 | 0-100 | 6.25 | 100 | 0.87 |
Perceived impact of COVID-19 pandemic on studies (n = 314) | 1.38 | 0.89 | 0–4 | 0 | 4 | / |
Variables | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Stress perception | – | ||||||
2. Positive thinking | − 0.41*** [-0.51, − 0.31] | – | |||||
3. Active stress coping | − 0.13* [-0.24, − 0.03] | 0.07 [-0.06, 0.19] | – | ||||
4. Social support | − 0.37*** [-0.47, − 0.27] | 0.17** [0.05, 0.28] | 0.02 [-0.09, 0.13] | – | |||
5. Support in faith | − 0.14** [− 0.25, − 0.03] | 0.20*** [0.09, 0.30] | 0.05 [-0.07, 0.17] | 0.09 [-0.04, 0.21] | – | ||
6. Alcohol and cigarette consumption | 0.09 [-0.03, 0.20] | 0.04 [-0.07, 0.15] | − 0.01 [-0.12, 0.10] | − 0.14** [-0.25, − 0.02] | − 0.07 [-0.18, 0.04] | – | |
7. Work-privacy conflict | 0.51*** [0.42, 0.60] | − 0.24*** [-0.36, − 0.13] | 0.02 [-0.11, 0.14] | − 0.26*** [-0.36, − 0.16] | − 0.15** [-0.26, − 0.04] | 0.08 [-0.04, 0.21] | – |
8. Perceived impact of COVID-19 pandemic on studies | 0.00 [-0.10, 0.10] | 0.12* [-0.00, 0.24] | − 0.01 [-0.13, 0.11] | − 0.04 [-0.15, 0.06] | 0.04 [-0.09, 0.18] | − 0.05 [-0.17, 0.05] | − 0.09 [-0.19, 0.03] |
Differences between student midwives with and without children
Variables | Students with children | Students without children | U | z | p | Adjusted p | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
n | Mean rank | n | Mean rank | |||||
Stress perception (n = 335) | 50 | 166.66 | 285 | 168.24 | 7058.00 | -0.11 | 0.92 | > 0.999 |
Positive thinking1 (n = 338) | 50 | 193.89 | 288 | 165.27 | 5980.50 | -1.93 | 0.05 | 0.25 |
Active stress coping1 (n = 337) | 50 | 188.27 | 287 | 165.64 | 6211.50 | -1.54 | 0.13 | 0.52 |
Social support1 (n = 337) | 50 | 143.12 | 287 | 173.51 | 5881.00 | -2.08 | 0.04* | 0.24 |
Support in faith1 (n = 337) | 51 | 167.55 | 286 | 169.26 | 7219.00 | -0.12 | 0.91 | > 0.999 |
Alcohol and cigarette consumption2 (n = 338) | 51 | 164.57 | 287 | 170.38 | 7067.00 | -0.42 | 0.68 | > 0.999 |
Relationships between stress perception, coping behaviors and work-privacy conflict
Variable | b | SE | ß | p |
---|---|---|---|---|
Constant | 1.05 (0.86, 1.26) | 0.10 | p =.001 | |
Work-privacy conflict | 0.02 (0.01, 0.02) | 0.00 | 0.53 | p =.001 |
n | 333 | |||
R2 | 0.28*** | |||
Adj. R2 | 0.28*** |
Perceived impact of COVID-19 pandemic on studies
Aspect of study program | Details on impact of COVID-19 pandemic |
---|---|
Shift to online/hybrid teaching (n = 62) | Positive aspects: • work-life balance (e.g. childcare) • no travel time and cost savings • easier attendance at lectures • stress reduction • flexibility • easier health-promoting exercise in home office • possibility to work at one’s own learning pace Negative aspects: • problems with coordination and implementation of curriculum adaptation without deficits • uncertainties and overload among teaching staff • limitations due to technical problems • reduction and cancellation of lectures • challenges with self-study • lower effectiveness of online teaching compared to classroom teaching • worries about missing important exams due to potential COVID-19 infection |
Shortage of skills lab (n = 19) | • knowledge acquisition deficits • insecurity • disappointment • frustration • partial implementation of follow-up dates unrelated to present teaching content |
Reduced contact with fellow students (n = 28) | • difficulties in establishing contact, cooperation, group formation, and cohesion • loneliness at study beginning, especially for students who had moved for study • profound impacts over the course of the study program |
Changes at practical assignments (n = 20) | • limitations of practical assignments • exclusion in practical assignments due to students’ own illness leading to increased stress • difficulties in achieving target number of cases for admission to the midwifery team • fewer instructions by teaching staff • fewer opportunities for exchange within the team • unclear regulations due to changing political guidelines as well as different approaches by teams • increased workload and stress due to pandemic-related additional job tasks and short-staffing • difficulties in care of childbearing women due to COVID-19 pandemic: no permission for students to attend childbearing women with COVID-19 infection, role conflict due to taking on an additional support person role for the birthing woman in the course of stricter hygiene regulations at hospitals (attendants not allowed), distressing perception of more distant care of COVID-19-infected patients in the maternity hospital |
COVID-19 hygiene regulations (n = 15) | • impact of obligation to cover mouth and nose on health (e.g. skin problems, headaches in the course of work) and practice (e.g. more difficult communication with families, limited perception of non-verbal communication) • higher stress levels due to perceived pressure by universities and employers regarding vaccination status • disadvantages for unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated students in practical training • wish to have had more time for vaccination (for using later developed vaccines) |
Relationships between perceived impact of COVID-19 pandemic on studies and stress perception
Variable | b | SE | ß | p |
---|---|---|---|---|
Constant | 2.18 (2.05, 2.32) | 0.07 | p =.001 | |
Perceived impact of COVID-19 pandemic on studies | 0.03 (-0.05, 0.11) | 0.04 | 0.04 | p =.514 |
n | 308 | |||
R2 | 0.00 | |||
Adj. R2 | − 0.00 |
Variable | b | SE | t | p |
---|---|---|---|---|
Constant | 2.22 (2.16, 2.28) | 0.03 | 70.08 | p <.001 |
Perceived impact of COVID-19 pandemic on studies (centred) | 0.03 (-0.04, 0.10) | 0.04 | 0.83 | p =.405 |
Work-privacy conflict (centred) | 0.02 (0.01, 0.02) | 0.00 | 11.01 | p <.001 |
Perceived impact of COVID-19 pandemic on studies x work-privacy conflict | 0.00 (-0.00, 0.01) | 0.00 | 1.47 | p =.142 |
n | 306 | |||
R2 | 0.28*** |