Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41353202›Full record

ArticleBMC psychology2025

Navigating the storm: a scoping review of support strategies for postgraduate nursing students with probable anxiety and depression in South Africa.

Tshepo A Ntho, Tebogo M Mothiba, Mamare A Bopape, Masenyani O Mbombi, Thabo A Phukubye, Livhuwani Muthelo, Peaceful N Ntshayintshayi

Abstract readScoping Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC psychology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Tshepo A NthoDepartment of Nursing, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga, Polokwane, 0727, South Africa. tshepo.ntho@ul.ac.za.
Tebogo M MothibaDeputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation & Partnerships, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga, Polokwane, 0727, South Africa.
Mamare A BopapeFaculty of Health Science Executive Dean's Office, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga, Polokwane, 0727, South Africa.
Masenyani O MbombiDepartment of Nursing, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga, Polokwane, 0727, South Africa.
Thabo A PhukubyeDepartment of Nursing, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga, Polokwane, 0727, South Africa.
Livhuwani MutheloDepartment of Nursing, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga, Polokwane, 0727, South Africa.
Peaceful N NtshayintshayiDepartment of Nursing, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga, Polokwane, 0727, South Africa.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPostgraduate nursing students' mental health, particularly anxiety and depression, is often neglected, affecting retention and timely completion of studies.

objectiveThis paper aimed to identify available support strategies for postgraduate nursing students with probable anxiety and depression in South Africa.

methodsA scoping review was conducted following the Arksey and O'Malley framework, refined by Levac and Colquhoun, and aligned with the Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Electronic databases, including ScienceDirect, EBSCOhost, PsycINFO, PubMed, and regional databases like African Index Medicus, were searched. Primary studies published in peer-reviewed journals in English between 2013 and 2024 were included.

resultsThe search identified 534 studies, of which eight met the inclusion criteria. Key findings revealed six main themes for support strategies: emotional support from supervisors, peer group networks, communication and interaction as support mechanisms for mental well-being, employer support, stress-relief strategies, and role play as a coping strategy.

conclusionThis scoping review is the first to document support strategies for postgraduate nursing students with mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression in South Africa. It highlights significant gaps in the literature and the urgent need for tailored support strategies. The current support strategies are poorly structured, emphasizing the need for further observational and mixed-methods studies.

Indexed as

AnxietyDepressionSocial SupportStudents, NursingAdaptation, PsychologicalEducation, Nursing, GraduateHumansPeer GroupSouth AfricaAnxietyDepressionPostgraduate nursing studentsScoping reviewSouth africaSupport strategies

Identifiers

PMID41353202
PMCPMC12797793

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.