Stress and neuroticism in Spanish nursing students: A two-wave longitudinal study

The aim of this study was to clarify the direction of the stressneuroticism relationship in a sample of 200 nursing students from three Spanish universities before their entry into the work force using a two-wave longitudinal design. The Stressful Life Events Scale and NEO-FFI Neuroticism subscale were administered at the beginning (T1) and end (T2) of nursing studies. Female students reported higher scores in both perceived stress due to life events and neuroticism than males. Older students scored higher in life events stress than younger ones. High neuroticism was associated with a high level of stress. Finally, neuroticism scores rose in the group in which stress increased from T1 to T2. Our findings partially support the stress causation interactionist model of stress in which life events can modify personality traits. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 35:589597, 2012