The Effect of a Peer-Assisted Adjustment Programme for International Nursing Students on Adjustment to University Life and Nursing Education Stress

OpenAlex İngilizce

International nursing students often encounter challenges related to unfamiliar educational systems, cultural differences, and language barriers, leading to economic, psychological, and social difficulties. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a peer-assisted adjustment program in enhancing university adjustment and reducing nursing education-related stress among international nursing students. A single-group pretest post-test design was used with 31 first- and second-year international nursing students at a university in northwestern Türkiye. Participants completed the International Nursing Students Identification Form, University Adjustment Scale (UAS), and Nursing Education Stress Scale (NESS) before and after participating in a peer-assisted adjustment program, which included adaptation sessions, online support groups, and community activities. Paired-sample t-tests were employed to analyse the data. The results showed that international nursing students’ overall university adaptation significantly improved after participating in the peer-assisted adjustment program. Additionally, total nursing education stress scores, including academic and clinical practice-related stress, demonstrated a statistically significant reduction following the program. These findings suggest that structured peer-assisted adjustment programs may offer sustainable support for international nursing students and contribute to improved university experiences.