Comparative analysis of role strain and self-esteem across academic programs

The purpose of this analysis was to compare differences across programs in role strain and self-esteem between and among licensed practical nursing (LPN) students and basic traditional associate degree nursing (ADN) students enrolled in an ADN program and to compare differences between and within bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) students. Faculty were particularly concerned about differences in role strain and self-esteem between and within these groups from entry into to exit from their programs. Though 113 students participated in the analysis, the 88 who completed both the pretest and the posttest comprised 47 traditional ADN students, 17 LPN transition students, and 24 BSN students. The LPN students and the experimental group of BSN students attended stress-reducing seminars, with the goals of increasing self-esteem and decreasing role strain. The Lengacher Role Strain Inventory was utilized to assess role strain; Coopersmith's Self-Esteem Inventory assessed self-esteem. Analysis of the data by use of a t-test for independent samples and a 2 x 2 ANOVA resulted in statistically significant differences, at entry and exit, between LPN transition students and traditional ADN students in self-esteem. A paired t-test and a 2 x 2 ANOVA's demonstrated statistically significant differences in self-esteem among the ADN students and the BSN students from entry to exit and significant differences in role strain between and among LPN and ADN students from entry to exit. No significant differences in role strain were observed between or within the baccalaureate students at entry and exit.