Iran Journal of Nursing

  Background & aim: Self-efficacy regulates stressful processes. Furthermore, students are known as a high risk group for depression suffering . This study aimed to investigate the relationship between depression and self- efficacy in nursing students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

  Material & Methods: This is a correlational study. The study population consisted of undergraduate nursing students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. For sampling, some classes were randomly selected. Totally, 249 nursing students from semesters 1-6 completed the questionnaires. Data gathering tool consisted of three sections: Demographic information, Sherer’s et al. general self-efficacy questionnaire and Beck’s depression inventory. SPSS-PC (v. 16) and statistical tests such as Pearson correlation, Chi-square and Fisher’s exact test were applied for data analysis.

  Results: Pearson correlation test showed statistically significant reverse correlation between students’ depression and their self-efficacy scores (p<0.001 r=-0.461). Furthermore, there were significant reverse relationship between depression and interest to field (p<0.001). There were also significant direct relationship between self -efficacy and adequacy of family income (p=0.029).

  Conclusion: The findings showed a reverse relationship between nursing students’ depression and their self- efficacy. It means that higher levels of depression is correlated with lower levels of self -efficacy. Further research to investigate the relationship between self- efficacy and depression in other faculties and in comparison with other fields is recommended.

  Received: 15 Jun 2013

  Accepted: 11 Sep 2013