Patterns and predictors of mental workload in intern nursing students: a latent profile analysis
Abstract Background Intern nursing students are facing considerable psychological burdens, which impact their mental well-being and career progression. Although numerous studies have explored the psychological status of intern nursing students and its influencing factors, the majority of these inves...
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03129-2 |
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| author | Yanmei Gan Tingting Liao Lingfang Liu Yao Du Mingjuan Guo Gaoye Li |
| author_facet | Yanmei Gan Tingting Liao Lingfang Liu Yao Du Mingjuan Guo Gaoye Li |
| author_sort | Yanmei Gan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Intern nursing students are facing considerable psychological burdens, which impact their mental well-being and career progression. Although numerous studies have explored the psychological status of intern nursing students and its influencing factors, the majority of these investigations have primarily focused on single-factor linear relationships. To date, there has been limited research analyzing the individual differences among intern nursing students. Objective This study aimed to investigate the mental workload patterns of intern nursing students and identify the factors that predict these patterns. Methods A total of 320 intern nursing students were recruited for this study via convenience sampling, 302 of whom completed the survey. A pattern of intern nursing students’ mental workload was identified through a latent profile analysis of 6 items on the NASA-Task Load Index scale. The analysis of latent profiles was performed using Mplus 8.7 software, while χ2 test and logistic regression analysis were carried out using SPSS 27.0 software. Results Three patterns of mental workload of intern nursing students were identified as “low MWL-high self-rated (n = 45, 14.9%)”, “moderate MWL (n = 152, 50.33%)”, and “high MWL-low self-rated (n = 105, 34.77%)”. Age and monthly income of 3000–5000 RMB were the main predictors of low MWL-high self-rated pattern. In contrast, long internships, passive coping strategies, college degree and monthly income < 3000 RMB were predictors of moderate MWL pattern. Conclusion This study provided novel insights into the mental workload patterns among intern nursing students. The findings highlighted the heterogeneity of MWL and provide evidence-based guidance for nursing administrators to identify groups of intern nursing students with high mental workload and to develop targeted psychological interventions and management strategies. Clinical trial number Not applicable. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8d46656d61bf49318d2a43fd7167ce61 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-6955 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Nursing |
| spelling | doaj-art-8d46656d61bf49318d2a43fd7167ce612025-08-20T03:53:46ZengBMCBMC Nursing1472-69552025-05-012411910.1186/s12912-025-03129-2Patterns and predictors of mental workload in intern nursing students: a latent profile analysisYanmei Gan0Tingting Liao1Lingfang Liu2Yao Du3Mingjuan Guo4Gaoye Li5Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversityDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversityDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversityDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversityGuangxi Health Science CollegeDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversityAbstract Background Intern nursing students are facing considerable psychological burdens, which impact their mental well-being and career progression. Although numerous studies have explored the psychological status of intern nursing students and its influencing factors, the majority of these investigations have primarily focused on single-factor linear relationships. To date, there has been limited research analyzing the individual differences among intern nursing students. Objective This study aimed to investigate the mental workload patterns of intern nursing students and identify the factors that predict these patterns. Methods A total of 320 intern nursing students were recruited for this study via convenience sampling, 302 of whom completed the survey. A pattern of intern nursing students’ mental workload was identified through a latent profile analysis of 6 items on the NASA-Task Load Index scale. The analysis of latent profiles was performed using Mplus 8.7 software, while χ2 test and logistic regression analysis were carried out using SPSS 27.0 software. Results Three patterns of mental workload of intern nursing students were identified as “low MWL-high self-rated (n = 45, 14.9%)”, “moderate MWL (n = 152, 50.33%)”, and “high MWL-low self-rated (n = 105, 34.77%)”. Age and monthly income of 3000–5000 RMB were the main predictors of low MWL-high self-rated pattern. In contrast, long internships, passive coping strategies, college degree and monthly income < 3000 RMB were predictors of moderate MWL pattern. Conclusion This study provided novel insights into the mental workload patterns among intern nursing students. The findings highlighted the heterogeneity of MWL and provide evidence-based guidance for nursing administrators to identify groups of intern nursing students with high mental workload and to develop targeted psychological interventions and management strategies. Clinical trial number Not applicable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03129-2Mental workloadIntern nursing studentsPredictorsLatent profile analysis |
| spellingShingle | Yanmei Gan Tingting Liao Lingfang Liu Yao Du Mingjuan Guo Gaoye Li Patterns and predictors of mental workload in intern nursing students: a latent profile analysis BMC Nursing Mental workload Intern nursing students Predictors Latent profile analysis |
| title | Patterns and predictors of mental workload in intern nursing students: a latent profile analysis |
| title_full | Patterns and predictors of mental workload in intern nursing students: a latent profile analysis |
| title_fullStr | Patterns and predictors of mental workload in intern nursing students: a latent profile analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Patterns and predictors of mental workload in intern nursing students: a latent profile analysis |
| title_short | Patterns and predictors of mental workload in intern nursing students: a latent profile analysis |
| title_sort | patterns and predictors of mental workload in intern nursing students a latent profile analysis |
| topic | Mental workload Intern nursing students Predictors Latent profile analysis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03129-2 |
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