THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN RECENT LIFE EVENTS AND EDUCATIONAL PARTICIPATION OF PROFESSIONAL CAREER WOMEN IN NURSING.
Contributors: University of Oklahoma.
Published: 1987
Number of pages: 113
Subjects: Education, Adult and Continuing.
Description: This descriptive study was designed to examine the nature of the association between recent life event changes, as measured by the Life Experiences Survey (LES) (Sarason, Johnson, & Siegel, 1978) and reentering professional career women's reasons to participate in graduate nursing education at the master's level as measured by the Education Participation Scale (EPS) (Boshier, 1982). Ten research questions were explored organized around variables of recent life event changes, reasons to reenter higher education, and socio-demographic data.

Three instruments were used in surveying first and second semester female graduate nursing students at the master's level in seven southwestern state-supported graduate nursing programs. The socio-demographic questionnaire elicited descriptive information of the population. Sarason, Johnson, and Siegel's (1978) Life Experience Survey measured the positive, negative, and total impact of recent life events occurring one year prior to enrollment into graduate education. The Education Participation Scale (Boshier, 1982) measured the subjects' reasons for participating in graduate education. The total sample size consisted of 104 subjects.

The data were analyzed using contingency coefficients, Spearman correlations, and canonical analysis. The results showed a Spearman correlation coefficient of.21 at the.03 level of significance for the relationship between the total impact score of recent life events (LES) and professional advancement (EPS) as a reason to participate in graduate nursing education. The five most commonly experienced life events were change in work situation, change in residence, new job, major change in financial status, and major change in social activities. Although not statistically significant, age ranges of children 13 to 17 years and 18 years and over living at home had strong contingency coefficients of association with the LES impact scores, as well as, with reasons of professional advancement and cognitive interest.

Finally, the canonical analysis identified a.06 level of significance model which described the relationship between recent life events and reasons to participate in graduate nursing education. The model described the occurrence of an outstanding personal achievement, a major change in social activities, and borrowing more than $10,000, as the recent life events related to professional advancement and external expectation. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.).
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-05, Section: A, page: 1036.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA, 1987.

School code: 0169.