Loureiro, FernandaPeças, DinaNeves, Ana CristinaAntunes, Ricardo JorgeAntunes, Ana Vanessa2026-04-302026-04-302025-10Fernanda Loureiro, Dina Peças, Ana Cristina Neves, Ricardo Jorge Antunes, Ana Vanessa Antunes, Coping and social support in clinical nursing practice used by nursing students: A mixed-methods study, Teaching and Learning in Nursing, Volume 20, Issue 4, 2025, Pages e1098-e1105, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2025.05.0211557-3087http://hdl.handle.net/10400.26/62974Aim: To explore the coping strategies employed by nursing students during clinical practice and to examine their satisfaction with the social support received, as well as to identify the key dimensions of that support. Background: Nursing students have high levels of anxiety and stress in clinical practice due to clinical setting, patient complexity and lack of practical and theoretical knowledge among others. Students have been found to use coping strategies and social support to mitigate stress. Methods: We used a mixed methods approach with an explanatory sequential design. Coping behavior inventory and the satisfaction with social support scale were applied to students from all years followed by interviews to family members and close contacts of 4th year nursing students. Results: “Problem-solving” was the most common coping strategy, and students reported satisfaction with social support. Pshycological support was highlighted in interviews performed mostly to female family members and close contacts. Conclusions: Our findings emphasize the need for academic institutions to enhance student support networks and implement mental health initiatives to foster well-being and resilience during clinical practice.engcoping skillssocial supportstudentseducationnursingclinical nursing researchcontribution to journal10.1016/j.teln.2025.05.021