Date
8-20-2026
Department
School of Health Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences (PhD)
Chair
Judy Sandlin
Keywords
emotional exhaustion, resilience, alcohol use, nursing students, academic performance, burnout.
Disciplines
Public Health
Recommended Citation
Nerius, Jennifer, "Predictors of Academic Performance in First-Year BSN Students: The Role of Emotional Exhaustion, Alcohol Use, and Resilience" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 8806.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/8806
Abstract
The first year of nursing school can be academically demanding and emotionally challenging as students adjust to rigorous coursework, clinical expectations, and professional responsibilities. Understanding factors that influence student well-being and academic success is important for supporting students during this transition. The purpose of this quantitative longitudinal correlational study was to examine the relationships among emotional exhaustion, alcohol use, resilience, and academic performance in first-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students. Guided by Resilience Theory, the study explored whether resilience was associated with emotional exhaustion and alcohol use and whether emotional exhaustion, resilience, and alcohol use predicted academic performance. Participants included 32 first-year BSN students enrolled in a private faith-based university nursing program. Data were collected using the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Student Survey Emotional Exhaustion Subscale (MBI-SS EE), the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), and self-reported GPA. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analyses, and multiple regression. Findings indicated no significant relationships among resilience, emotional exhaustion, and alcohol use. In addition, emotional exhaustion, resilience, and alcohol use did not significantly predict end-of-semester GPA. Although the original hypotheses were not supported, the findings suggest that factors beyond emotional exhaustion, resilience, and alcohol use may play a greater role in academic performance among first-year nursing students. Future research should examine additional academic, personal, and environmental factors that may influence student success and well-being.
