Structured Wellness Interventions and Their Impact on Perceived Stress and Academic Success Among Doctor of Nursing Practice Students

A Systematic Review

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/76mkvc62

Keywords:

Doctor of Nursing Practice students; wellness interventions; perceived stress; academic success; mindfulness; resilience; graduate nursing education

Abstract

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students often experience elevated psychological stress due to the rigorous academic, clinical, leadership, and scholarly project requirements of doctoral nursing education. These demands frequently occur alongside professional employment and personal responsibilities, creating pressures that can negatively affect well-being and academic performance. High levels of perceived stress among graduate nursing students have been linked to burnout, reduced engagement, cognitive fatigue, and delays in program completion. This systematic review examined the effects of structured wellness interventions on perceived stress and academic success among DNP students. Interventions such as mindfulness training, resilience programs, structured physical activity, peer support, and coaching were generally associated with reduced stress and improved academic engagement and self-efficacy. 

Author Biographies

  • Dr. James Maiden, Uniformed Services University, USA

    Dr. James Maiden is an Associate Professor and the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. A licensed professional counselor (LPC), National Certified Counselor (NCC), and Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS), Dr. Maiden brings extensive experience in counseling, student development, and academic leadership.

    He holds a Doctor of Education in Counseling Psychology, a Master of Science in Counseling, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Dr. Maiden’s research interests include the impact of STEM on mental health, integrative medicine methodologies, and student development and leadership. His work focuses on advancing holistic support systems for students, bridging the gap between academic achievement and mental wellness, and promoting resilience in educational and healthcare settings.

     

  • Dr. Delarious Stewart, East Texas A&M University, USA

    Delarious O. Stewart, EdD, is an Assistant Professor of Counseling at East
    Texas A&M University. His research interests include educational equity, mental
    health and men of color, along with STEM and student persistence in graduate
    education. 

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Published

2026-03-20

Issue

Vol. 2 (2025): American Journal of Medicine and Health Studies

Section

Behavioral, Mental, and Addiction Health

Categories

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. James Maiden, Dr. Delarious Stewart

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

How to Cite

Structured Wellness Interventions and Their Impact on Perceived Stress and Academic Success Among Doctor of Nursing Practice Students: A Systematic Review. (2026). American Journal of Medicine and Health Studies, 2, 17-30. https://doi.org/10.32674/76mkvc62