Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To determine the level of COVID-19 anxiety among Filipino nursing students and its predictors, and its associations with their perceived health, sleep quality, and psychological wellbeing. METHODS: The study employed a cross-sectional design that administered a survey among selected nursing students in the Central Philippines through purposive sampling. We used self-report questionnaires, such as the COVID-19 Anxiety Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Psychological Well-Being Scale, and one-item measures for perceived health and quality of sleep. RESULTS: Out of 261 participants, more than half reported dysfunctional anxiety symptoms. Multiple regression analyses revealed that being of male sex and in the fourth-year level in the Nursing program was associated with lower COVID-19 anxiety. Further, nursing students who rated high in perceived health, sleep quality, and psychological wellbeing were more likely to report lower COVID-19 anxiety levels. CONCLUSION: Nursing students' levels of COVID-19 anxiety indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic has psychologically affected this vulnerable group. COVID-19 anxiety can lead to poor sleep quality and psychological wellbeing. Nursing education authorities must formulate measures and strategies to protect the psychological welfare of nursing students against COVID-19.