A STUDY TO ASSESS SOCIAL INTERACTION AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AMONG UNDERGRADUATE NURSING STUDENTS AT AL-BERUNI INSTITUTE OF NURSING HYDERABAD

Abstract

Background: Psychological well-being is an important aspect of overall health, especially among nursing students who face both academic and clinical stress. Social interaction is considered a key factor that may influence mental health by providing emotional support and a sense of belonging.

Objective: To assess social interaction and psychological well-being, and to determine the relationship between these variables among undergraduate nursing students at Al-Biruni Institute of Nursing, Hyderabad.

Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study design with a quantitative approach was used. The study was conducted from January 2026 to March 2026. A total of 169 undergraduate nursing students were selected using convenience sampling. Data were collected using a structured adopted questionnaire, including the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and the WHO-5 Well-Being Index. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27. Descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) were applied.

Results: The findings revealed that 36.1% of participants had moderate psychological well-being, 34.3% had high well-being, and 29.6% had low well-being. Correlation analysis showed a very weak positive relationship between social interaction and psychological well-being (Pearson's r = 0.049, p = 0.524; Spearman's r = 0.058, p = 0.458), which was not statistically significant. Similarly, the Chi-square test indicated no significant association between the variables (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: The study suggests that psychological well-being is influenced by multiple factors beyond social interaction, such as academic stress, clinical workload, and personal coping strategies.