Prevalence and associations of neurodevelopmental and mental health disorders with academic and well-being challenges among nursing and midwifery students: A cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION This study highlights the significant stress faced by nursing and midwifery students stemming from the rigorous requirements of their curriculum, which includes both demanding theoretical and practical elements. This study aims to identify the causes and manifestations of learning environment stress among midwifery and nursing students. METHODS A cross-sectional study in Lithuania, Poland and Latvia was employed to evaluate students' learning challenges and neurodiversity using 40 different questions assessed on a Likert scale. Data were gathered through online surveys in February-April 2024, distributed to nursing and midwifery students from three international institutions. RESULTS The findings reveal significant correlations (p<0.05) between anxiety and stress levels in students with neurodiversity, underscoring the critical impact of stress on the mental health and well-being of nursing students. These results demonstrate significant associations (rho=0.2; p<0.05) with shifts in life meaning, health issues, emotional and cognitive challenges, and mobbing. CONCLUSIONS Anxiety and stress are significantly related to the presence of neurodisability among students, highlighting the necessity for targeted mental health interventions to address these critical issues.