A Descriptive Study Examining the Relationship of Social Support to Hardiness, Help-seeking Behaviors and Academic Performance in Baccalaureate Nursing Students

This research study is a secondary analysis that examined the relationship of social support to help-seeking behaviors, hardiness and academic performance in baccalaureate nursing students in a midwestern University setting. The study considered the baccalaureate nursing students in aggregate, as well as differences in these factors by gender. The original study design was descriptive correlational utilizing researcher-administered surveys. The Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire (NSSQ) was used to measure social support, the Personal Views Survey (PVS) to measure hardiness, and a researcher-developed likert scale measured help-seeking behaviors for academics and life circumstances. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics, single t-tests, correlation coefficients and the Mann- Whitney U test. This study found that students with primary social support relationships of a spouse or partner had significantly higher scores on the NSSQ subscales of Affect (p=.000) and Affirmation (p=.038). PVS subscale scores for Control were significantly higher (p=.0134) for students who reported daily contact with their primary relationships. Students with primary relationships lasting 5 years or more were significantly more likely to seek help for academic situations (p=.0496). Students with more than 10 support relationships were found to have significantly higher subscale scores in Affect (p=.000) and Affirmation (p=.002). Students with high numbers of social support relationships (20 or more) reported slightly higher actual academic performance (p=.071) than those with less than 20 relationships. Female students had' slightly higher overall hardiness scores (p=.0559) and significantly higher PVS subscale scores in Commitment (p=.0439) than male students. Female students were also significantly more likely than male students to seek help for academic situations (p=.0427). The findings from this study will contribute to the research base that exists on factors influencing successful completion of a program in nursing, as well as the current literature on social support, hardiness, and help-seeking behaviors. Identifying factors that affect successful baccalaureate program completion provides guidance in the development and selection of intervention strategies that promote student retention.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - University Access Only

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Graduate Nursing

Year

1997

Author dc:creator

• Recher, Dawn L.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Margaret Hegge

• nursing student social networks
• nursing student attitudes
• academic achievement
• Nursing

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright © 1997 Dawn Recher. All rights reserved

Language dc:language

en

Repository record dc:identifier

https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/882

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:openprairie.sdstate.edu:etd-1882