Table 1 Baccalaureate nursing students’ characteristics and level of fear of COVID-19 (N = 2605)

University A (n = 1893)

< 0.001

 B (n = 1796)

938

36

2.57 ± 0.85

 C (n = 858)

874

34

2.41 ± 0.79

 D (n = 675)

396

15

2.32 ± 0.71

 E (n = 866)

214

8

2.38 ± 0.72

184

7

2.44 ± 0.80

Years in the baccalaureate nursing programme

< 0.001

 1

1074

41

2.54 ± 0.82

 2

801

31

2.40 ± 0.81

 3

730

28

2.45 ± 0.80

Age, years

< 0.001

 < 25

1846

71

2.50 ± 0.80

 25–29

377

14

2.37 ± 0.82

 ≥ 30

382

15

2.27 ± 0.74

Living alone

0.663

 No

2140

82

2.45 ± 0.80

 Yes

465

18

2.47 ± 0.80

Number of times tested for COVID-19

0.589

 Never

765

29

2.44 ± 0.81

 1

724

28

2.43 ± 0.80

 2

445

17

2.43 ± 0.81

 3

325

12

2.47 ± 0.81

 ≥ 4

346

13

2.51 ± 0.77

History of a positive COVID-19 test

0.077

 No

2482

95

2.45 ± 0.80

 Yes

110

5

2.57 ± 0.82

Quarantine status related to COVID-19

0.145

 Never

1302

50

2.42 ± 0.80

 Previous

1253

48

2.48 ±0.80

 Now

150

2

2.56 ± 0.91

At risk for COVID-19 complications

< 0.001

 No

2091

80

2.36 ±0.76

 Uncertain

324

13

2.80 ± 0.82

 Yes

190

7

2.81 ± 0.95

Trust in the government’s handling of the COVID-19 situation

< 0.001

 Strongly disagree/disagree

232

9

2.56 ± 0.97

 Neither disagree nor agree

561

22

2.53 ± 0.82

 Agree

1344

52

2.45 ± 0.79

 Strongly agree

468

18

2.30 ± 0.80

Trust in the universities’ handling of the COVID-19 situation

< 0.001

 Strongly disagree

182

7

2.60 ± 0.96

 Disagree

447

17

2.51 ± 0.85

 Neither disagree nor agree

783

30

2.53 ± 0.80

 Agree

984

38

2.36 ± 0.82

 Strongly agree

213

8

2.29 ± 0.80

Feeling lonely due to COVID-19

< 0.001

 Strongly disagree

165

6

1.94 ± 0.70

 Disagree

380

15

2.18 ± 0.72

 Neither disagree nor agree

446

17

2.29 ± 0.71

 Agree

899

34

2.45 ± 0.74

 Strongly agree

718

28

2.81 ± 0.84

Engagement in clinical practice during the pandemic

< 0.001

 Yes

1591

61

2.41 ± 0.79

 No

1014

39

2.52  ± 0.80