The mediating effect of belongingness on the relationship between perceived stress and clinical learning environment and supervision among nursing internship students

Background Belongingness is considered an important factor contributing to the clinical learning environment to good learning outcomes and higher levels of satisfaction among nursing students. Aims This study investigated the mediating influence of a sense of belonging on the relationship between the clinical learning environment and perceived stress. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenience sample of 455 internship nursing students from August to November 2023. Data were collected using Belongingness Scale-Clinical Placement Experience, Perceived Stress Scale, and Clinical Learning Environment and Supervision. Results The mean of nursing internship students’ belongingness was 121.27 ± 14.95. The majority of them had moderate stress levels (83.3%). The direct effects analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between the clinical learning environment, supervision, and perceived stress (β = − .203, p < 0.001). Clinical learning environment and supervision had a positive direct effect on belongingness (β = .394, p < 0.001). Belongingness had a negative effect on perceived stress (β = − .086, p < 0.001). Belongingness significantly mediated the relationship between the clinical learning environment and supervision-perceived stress (β = − .215, p < 0.001). The overall results showed that perceive stress was considerably impacted by the clinical learning environment and supervision (β = − .237, p < 0.001). Conclusion A sense of belonging was a critical factor in alleviating the impact of an overwhelming environment. These findings emphasize the need to provide a positive environment to promote the health of nursing internship students.