Relationship between Nursing Students’ Self-Efficacy and Attachment to Their Families and Friends

Document Type : Research articles

Authors

Psychiatric Nursing and Mental Health, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University

Abstract

Self-efficacy in nursing students helps  them feel competent in clinical fields and is also
effective for students’ achievement. High self- efficacy is needed for secure attachment and decreasing
alienation between students and their families and friends. Objective: Determine the relationship
between Nursing students’ self-efficacy and their attachment to their families and friends. Setting: The
study was conducted at the Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Egypt. Subjects: Stratified
random sampling technique was used in this study to recruit a representative sample of 350 students
(88 students from the first semester, 63 students from the third semester, 60students from the fifth
semester and 139 students from the seventh semester). Tools: Three tools were used to collect
necessary data namely; socio-demographic &academic data structured interview schedule, inventory
of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA) and adolescent Social Self-Efficacy Scale (S-EFF). Results:
More than three quarters (78.6%, 76.6%, 85.1% respectively) of the studied students had high social
self-efficacy, were highly attached to their parents and peers. In addition, 97.5% of students who had
high self-efficacy were highly attached to their parents, and all students (100%) who had high self-efficacy
were highly attached to their peers. Conclusion: A positive relationship was found between
self-efficacy of students and their attachment to their families and friends. Recommendations: Future
research is needed to examine the different impacts mothers and fathers have on their children’s
attachment processes. Also, health education programs may be needed to explain attachment of
parents to their students.

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