RELATIONSHIP AMONG SELF-CONCEPT, COPING, SOCIAL SUPPORT AND ACHIEVEMENT IN THE FIRST NURSING COURSE AMONG MINORITY STUDENTS IN ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSING PROGRAMS.
Contributors: Columbia University. Teachers College.
Published: 1994
Number of pages: 163
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Health Sciences, Education.; Education, Educational Psychology.
Description: The purpose of this descriptive study was to examine the relationship of non-academic variables and achievement of minority nursing students in the first nursing course in associate degree nursing programs. The variables were: self-concept, coping ability and social support. Age, number of dependents and employment patterns were included in the demographic data collected and were subject to analysis.

A convenience sample of 97 nursing students enrolled in two urban community colleges was asked to complete the following instruments: The Tennessee Self Concept, The Coping Instrument, The Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire and The Student Information Form.

Descriptive statistics were reported for each variable. Pearson product moment correlation and multiple regression analysis were used to determine the variables most significant for predicting achievement. Research questions that sought to establish the importance of age, dependents and employment patterns were analyzed using correlation studies, t-tests and analysis of variance.

There was no statistically significant relationship between self-concept, coping, social support and achievement. No differences were found between the mean scores on the study variables among the various ethnic groups represented in the sample. Age and number of dependents did not yield a significant relationship to achievement. No differences were found in achievement among students who were employed versus the unemployed students. Nor were any differences found that related to the type of employment. However, unemployed students had higher achievement scores than those involved in either full or part-time employment.

Recommendations for future research include a need to replicate the study targeting specific minority groups, the use of samples from the various types of nursing programs, use of qualitative research approaches to study coping and motivation, development of instruments for use with minority students, and further studies that look at the effect of employment on achievement in nursing.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 55-11, Section: B, page: 4787.

Thesis (ED.D.)--COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY TEACHERS COLLEGE, 1994.

School code: 0055.