An investigation the perceived stress, university adjustment levels and academic grade average of freshman nursing university students

Abstract

Intense stress and adaptation problems experienced by students in the first year of university are important issues that attract attention in the literature. In this study, it was aimed to examine the relationship between the perceived stress, level of adaptation to the university and academic grade average. All freshman students (n= 70) studying at the Nursing Department in a government university in the 2019-2020 academic year participated in this study. The data were collected by using a Student Information Form, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the University Adjustment Scale. The mean age of the students is 19.35 ± 2.82 years, 67.6% of them are female and 98.5% are single. 66.2% of them stated that they wanted to study in the university they are enrolled in to a degree, 48.5% of them stated that they wanted to study in the department they currently study in to a degree, and 83.8% of them stated that they moved from a different city to study at the university. The average score of the students' compliance with the university is 93.80 ± 15.63 and is at a low level. The average score of the perceived stress level is 26.17 ± 5.76, which is high. There is a statistically significant and negative correlation between perceived stress and university adjustment levels (r =-0.46, p <0.01). There was no significant relationship between students' academic grade point averages and adaptation to university and the perceived stress (p>0.05). It is recommended that orientation programs be provided to incoming university students, and counseling services should be extended within the scope of the university's guidance and psychological counseling commissions and associated faculties.