Effects of a group poetry therapy program on stress, anxiety, ego-resilience, and psychological well-being of nursing students

Abstract

This quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest study developed a 10-session group poetry therapy program for nursing students and examined effects on clinical training, job-seeking stress, anxiety, ego-resilience, and psychological well-being. Forty-nine nursing students were conveniently recruited (experimental group n = 24, control group n = 25). Program construction used the Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation model and Mazza's poetry therapy practice model. Compared to the control group, the experimental group showed significant decreases in stress and anxiety and significant improvements in ego-resilience and psychological well-being immediately after intervention, maintained at 5-week follow-up. The program can be a beneficial intervention for individuals experiencing various degrees of stress.

Keywords: Anxiety; Nursing students; Poetry therapy; Psychological resilience; Psychological stress.