Comparative Study to Assess the Attitude toward Mental Illness between Second Year and Fourth Year B.Sc. Nursing Students

Abstract

Background: Mental illness remains a major global health concern, often accompanied by stigma and negative perceptions. Nursing students’ attitudes toward mental illness play a crucial role in shaping their future patient care practices. This study compares the attitudes of 2nd-year and 4th-year B.Sc. Nursing students toward mental illness.

Materials and Methods: A comparative descriptive research design was employed using a quantitative approach. The study was conducted among 200 nursing students (100 second-year and 100 fourth-year) from selected nursing colleges in Udaipur. The opinion about mental illness scale, comprising 51 items across five domains, was used for data collection. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software, with an unpaired t-test applied to compare attitude scores between the groups.

Results: Significant differences were observed in four domains—authoritarianism, mental health ideology, social restrictiveness, and
interpersonal etiology—favoring 4th-year students. However, no significant difference was found in the benevolence factor. The results indicate that completion of the mental health nursing course positively influences students’ attitudes towards mental illness.

Conclusion: Mental health education and clinical exposure significantly improve nursing students’ attitudes toward mental illness. Strengthening psychiatric nursing curricula and increasing real-world patient interactions can help foster positive perceptions and reduce stigma in mental health care.