Exploring the relationship between first-year nursing student self-esteem and dropout: A cohort study.
Jacinthe Dancot1, Benoît Pétré1, Nadia Dardenne1
1Public Health Sciences Department, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium.
Journal of Advanced Nursing
|March 3, 2021
Summary
Nursing students begin their education with medium, potentially fragile self-esteem. This baseline self-esteem, along with academic performance, is linked to a significant first-year dropout rate, highlighting the need for support.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Education
- Psychology
Background:
- Nursing student self-esteem is often assumed to be low, but baseline levels before educational influence are not well understood.
- The high dropout rate in nursing programs necessitates exploring contributing factors like self-esteem.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize nursing student self-esteem at the onset of their education.
- To investigate the relationship between initial self-esteem and student dropout rates.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 464 first-year nursing students completed baseline questionnaires assessing self-esteem, anxiety, self-efficacy, and social support.
- Data on academic performance and re-enrollment were collected one year later.
- Multivariate analyses examined factors influencing self-esteem and dropout.
Main Results:
- Students exhibited medium, potentially fragile, self-esteem upon entering nursing school.
- Self-esteem levels were associated with state anxiety, program completion self-efficacy, and internship self-efficacy.
- A 21.5% dropout rate was observed, significantly associated with lower self-esteem levels and academic performance.
Conclusions:
- Baseline self-esteem in nursing students is moderate and can be fragile.
- Self-esteem is a significant factor associated with nursing student dropout.
- Educational institutions should implement strategies to enhance student self-esteem, particularly for those with anxiety or low self-efficacy.
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