The Effect of Perceived Self-Esteem and Mental Health of Nursing Students on Life Satisfaction

The Effect of Perceived Self-Esteem and Mental Health of Nursing Students on Life Satisfaction

Geum Sook Op, Gwang Soo Op

1 Chungbuk Health Science University, Republic of Korea, 2 Chodang University, Republic of Korea,

Abstract:- This research studies correlation between perceived self-esteem, mental health, and life satisfaction of nursing students, and is conducted to examine how perceived self-esteem and mental health affect life satisfaction. Our subject was 195 students attending C college and C college in C area, and it was descriptive study. From May, 28tp018 to June,1st2018, survey was distributed to collect data. As a result of multiple regression analysis, influence factors of nursing students life satisfaction were motivation of admission(=.266, p=.000) and perceived self-esteem(=.320, p=.000) as in order, and this variables explained life satisfaction 11.9%. For nursing students to be capable of using positive coping strategy in further promoting life satisfaction, We should consider students motivation of admission and perceived self-esteem factors.

Keywords: Perceived Self-Esteem, Mental Health, Life Satisfaction, Nursing Students, Stepwise Multiple Regression.

1. INTRODUCTION

   1. Needs of study

      Criteria to assess the level of life satisfaction is determined by how individual or group members subjectively perceive their objective conditions from their important elements of life.[1] Therefore its a process of individual assessing quality of life by comparing reality with their criteria, id est how each individuals positively assesses their life.[2] Self- esteem signifies the level of self-respect with positive, negative attitude toward ego I.e. as one and special object, and the level of reckoning self as a valuable person.[3] Recently, mental health is becoming a major issue in educational field. Especially college years as an adolescent stage when ego-identity forms, are within most sensitive period when values change. For this reason, this issue becomes critical, and is more serious for the nursing college students whom suffer from anxiety and severe stress related to clinical practice. [5] Self-esteem which is a personal resource affecting life satisfaction level, represents level of individuals ability to make oneself compatible and valuable. Thus higher self-esteem even enables one to consider hardship into opportunity [6]. Therefore perceived self- esteem and type of mental health affect life satisfaction of nursing college students. To this date, life satisfaction study conducted on college student showed that higher self-esteem is related to better adaptation to school life, and higher level of life satisfaction.[7-10] And also many domestic and international studies usually deal with stress, mental health, career, college service, or studies based on programs.

      Likewise, in previous studies, self-esteem, life satisfaction or mental health acted as an independent variable or parameter. This study has its significance because influencing factor studies setting life satisfaction level as a direct subordinate variable are scarce.

      Hence this study interprets effects of nursing students life satisfaction according to their perceived mental health type, thereby provide fundamental data to help school life guidance to promote not only the nursing students mental health and self-esteem but also their life satisfaction.

   2. Purpose of study

   Specific purpose of this studies are as followed;

   1. Understand general characteristics of Nursing Students.

   2. Understand mental health, self-esteem, and life satisfaction level of Nursing Students.

   3. Distinguish differences in related variables considering nursing students general characteristics.

   4. Understand correlations between nursing students life satisfaction related variables.

   5. Understand influencive factors affecting nursing students life satisfaction.

2. MATERIAL AND METHODS

   1. Subjects of study and data collection method

      Subjects of this study are 195 nursing colleges student whom understand the purpose of this study and consented in written form, and are attending C University and C University located in C area, selected by random sampling method. Rather assessed using G*power program, for the regression analysis of effect size 0.15, significance level 0.05, experiment examination 0.85, 128 subjects were calculated to be requiring.

   2. Tools of study

      Perceived Self-esteem: The self-esteem scale developed by Rosenberg in 1965[3] and later translated by Jeon[11] was used as a tool. Jeon[11]s study calculated reliability coefficient be Cronbach's =.79, whereas this study showed Cronbach's =.84.

      Mental Health: A tool of Psychosocial Wellbeing Index-Short Form(PWI-SF) developed by Chang et al.[12] was used. The higher the score means the poorer psychosocial wellbeing. In Chang et al.[12]s study, credibility was Cronbach's =.90, This study showed Cronbach's =.84.

      Life Satisfaction: The life satisfaction scale developed by Diener Fmmons, Larsen & Griffin in 1985[13] and later used by Shim[14] was used as a tool. Shim[14]s study conducted on college students showed Cronbach's = .82. This study showed Cronbach's =.84.

   3. Data collection

      Analysis data was collected from May 28th to June 1st, 2018. Total 250 surveys were distributed and 232 returned. Within survey, 33 incomplete surveys were excluded and 195 copies were used for final data analysis.

   4. Data analysis

   Collected data was analyzed with SPSS Win 20.0. Average and standard deviation of mental health, self-esteem, and life satisfaction level was examined. Pearsons Correlation Coefficient was used to examine the relationship between

   Nursing students mental health, self-esteem, and life satisfaction level. Stepwise Multiple Regression were used to identify influence factor of nursing students life satisfaction.

3. RESULTS

   1. The general characteristics of the subjects

      Subject of this study is 195 fresh year nursing student, which are 50 male students(25.6%), 145 female students(74.4%), female student outnumbered, major age group is 20s being 135(69.2%), admission motives to nursing college was mostly about employment being 105(53.8%) [Table1].

      [Table1] The General Characteristics (N=195)

      Classification	Categories	N	%
      Sex	Male	50	25.6
      	Female	145	74.4
      Age	under 20	135	69.2
      	Over 20	60	30.8
      Religion	Christianity	127	65.1
      	Buddhism	47	24.1
      	Catholic	18	9.2
      	Others	3	1.5
      Admission motives	Employment	105	53.8
      	Recommendation	18	9.2
      	Realize Humanity	30	15.4
      	Others	42	21.5
      Mjor in other field more than 1year	Yes	40	24.1
      	No	148	75.9
      Regular exercise	Yes	52	26.7
      	No	129	66.2
      	Sometimes	14	7.2
      Regular diet	Yes	41	21.0
      	No	151	77.4
      	Sometimes	3	1.5
      Economic level	High	21	10.8
      	Medium	156	80.0
      	Low	18	9.2

   2. Extents of perceived self-esteem, mental health, life satisfaction of nursing students

      Self-esteem scored average 33.20±4.89 out of score range 26 to 48. Mental health scored average 48.66±9.04 out of score range 47 to 65, Life satisfaction scored 23.18±5.53 out of score range 27 to 35 [Table2].

      [Table2] Subjects score of self-esteem, mental health and life satisfaction (N=195)

      Variables	Range	Mean±SD	Min-Max
      Perceived Self-esteem	26-48	33.20±4.89	22-48
      Mental Health	47-65	48.66±9.04	18-65
      Life Satisfaction	27-35	23.18±5.53	8-35

   3. Difference between perceived self-esteem, mental health, life satisfaction according to nursing students general characteristic:

      As a result of analyzing variable differences according to general characteristics, mental health shows significant difference in regular excercise(F=3.082, p=.05), self-esteem shows significant difference in religion(F=2.657, p<.05). Level of life satisfaction showed significant differences in admission motive(F=6.218, p=.001).

      [Table3] Difference of perceived self-esteem, mental health, life satisfaction of nursing students general characteristics(N=195)

      Characteristi

      cs Categories

      Mental Health Perceived Self-Esteem

      Life Satisfaction

      M±SD t or F(p) M±SD t or F(p) M±SD t or F(p)

      Sex Male 50.52±8.91 2.849

      (.093)

      33.64±5.18 .543

      (.462)

      24.36±5.781 3.034

      (.083)

      Female 48.02±9.03 33.04±4.79 22.78±5.41

      Age Under20 49.25±8.89 .717

      (.543)

      32.71±4.56 2.544

      (.057)

      23.35±5.10 2.424

      (.067)

      .654

      (.581)

      .654

      (.581)

      2.657

      (.050)

      2.657

      (.050)

      .389

      (.761)

      .389

      (.761)

      2.228

      (.086)

      2.228

      (.086)

      Over 20 47.10±8.45 33.81±5.30 21.52±7.16

      Christianity

      48.43±8.45

      Christianity

      48.43±8.45

      Religion

      Buddhism Catholic

      Others

      48.38±11.30

      49.76±9.39

      43.00±15.62

      Religion

      Buddhism Catholic

      Others

      48.38±11.30

      49.76±9.39

      43.00±15.62

      Employment

      48.37±8.66

      Employment

      48.37±8.66

      Major in other field more than

      1year

      Yes

      48.25±9.34

      Major in other field more than

      1year

      Yes

      48.25±9.34

      Admission motive

      Admission motive

      Recommendation

      Recommendation

      50.83±7.31

      50.83±7.31

      Realize Humanity

      Others

      Realize Humanity

      Others

      48.36±9.78

      48.36±9.78

      48.69±10.22

      48.69±10.22

      .127

      (.721)

      .127

      (.721)

      No

      No

      48.79±8.97

      48.79±8.97

      Yes 47.23±10.84 3.082

      (.048)

      32.66±4.72

      32.66±4.72

      34.05±5.06

      33.91±4.69

      39.33±9.60

      34.05±5.06

      33.91±4.69

      39.33±9.60

      33.07±4.79

      33.07±4.79

      30.83±3.82

      30.83±3.82

      33.50±4.42

      33.50±4.42

      34.30±5.58

      34.30±5.58

      34.25±4.70

      34.25±4.70

      32.86±4.91

      32.86±4.91

      2.912

      (.090)

      2.912

      (.090)

      34.25±5.33 2.439

      (.090)

      22.83±5.32 1.016

      (.387)

      22.83±5.32 1.016

      (.387)

      24.22±5.28

      23.95±6.18

      20.00±5.00

      24.22±5.28

      23.95±6.18

      20.00±5.00

      21.84±5.26 6.218

      (.000)

      21.84±5.26 6.218

      (.000)

      22.77±7.24

      22.77±7.24

      24.46±5.15

      24.46±5.15

      25.80±4.61

      25.80±4.61

      24.08±5.62 1.624

      (.204)

      24.08±5.62 1.624

      (.204)

      22.90±5.49

      22.90±5.49

      24.26±5.30 1.365

      (.258)

      Regular workout

      No 49.65±7.82 32.65±4.67 22.82±5.76

      Sometimes 44.14±11.20 34.35±4.61 22.57±3.63

      Yes

      47.60±9.54

      .458

      (.633)

      33.31±5.01

      .413

      (.662)

      24.80±6.05 2..298

      (.103)

      Yes

      47.60±9.54

      .458

      (.633)

      33.31±5.01

      .413

      (.662)

      24.80±6.05 2..298

      (.103)

      Regular diet No 48.90±8.99 33.21±4.90 22.78±5.37

      Regular diet No 48.90±8.99 33.21±4.90 22.78±5.37

      Sometimes

      51.33±4.16

      30.66±2.08

      21.66±3.05

      Sometimes

      51.33±4.16

      30.66±2.08

      21.66±3.05

      Economic

      High 52.19±11.18 2.159

      (.118)

      33.00±4.63 1.185

      (.308)

      22.95±7.56 .505

      (.604)

      level

      p<.01

      Medium 48.43±8.79 33.03±4.91 23.35±5.18

      Low 46.55±7.80 34.88±4.86 22.00±5.94

   4. Relationships between perceived self-esteem, mental health, life satisfaction of nursing students

      Result of correlation test to identify each variables independent influence over nursing students mental health, self-esteem, and life satisfaction is as [Table4]. Nursing students self-esteem had showed significant static correlation(r=.329, p<.01) with mental health.

      [Table 4] Correlation of nursing students perceived self-esteem, mental health, life satisfaction(N=195)

      Variables	Perceived Self-Esteem	Mental Health	Life Satisfaction
      	r(p)	r(p)	r(p)
      Perceived Self-Esteem	1
      Mental Health	-.610(<.01)	1
      Life Satisfaction	.329(<.01)	-.165(<.05)	1

   5. Factors affecting nursing students life satisfaction

      To identify influence factor of nursing students life satisfaction, general characteristics variables showing differences in life satisfaction and correlative variables from correlation test is set as predictor variables to run multiple regression analysis. Nominal scale is analyzed with variable number processing, after verifying multi-collinearity with VIF and Dubin-Watson value, and correlation between residuals, stepwise multiple regression analysis was processed. As a result, influence factor to life satisfaction was admission motive, self-esteem as in order, and it explained 11.9% of life satisfaction of nursing students.

      [Table 5-] Influential factors relevant to life satisfaction (N=195)

      Variables	B	SE		t	p
      Constant	7.961	5.022		1.585	<.115
      Mental Health	.016	.051	.027	.323	<.747
      <>Perceived Self-Esteem	.362	.094	.320	3.830	<.000
      Admission motive	1.181	.293	.266	4.028	<.000
      R²=.136 Adjusted R²=.119 F=8.026 P=<.001 VIF=1.018-1.621 Dubin-Watson=1.858 *Dummy variable; Reference group: Admission motive : employment

4. DISCUSSION

   Nursing students have difficulties over career adaptation because of performing clinical practice while learning and relatively strict tradition and rules. According to Cater[15], female students majoring in nursing have more stress and adaptation problems over female students majoring in literature, and nursing students experience severe stress, anxiety, and dissatisfaction not only from nursing education course itself, but being near sick patients also be more stressful factor. Self-esteem and mental health could affect how to perceive, interpret, and deal with stress, It could act as a protective factor to evaluate self positively, altering life satisfaction which is an individuals physical, and mental adaptational result [16]. This study notable showed that the variables affecting nursing students life satisfaction was mental health, self-esteem, and admission motives showing significant influence, thus nursing students being under the condition of doing both overburdening theoretic and clinical practice, repeated studies to promote nursing students life satisfaction by identifying variables affecting their self- esteem and mental health, and developing education and program to promote their life satisfaction is necessary.

5. CONCLUSION

Considering mental health, and self-esteem which are identified to affect nursing students life satisfaction, and developing life guidance program to actualize admission motive is necessary, and repeated study to promote life satisfaction of nursing student whose stress loads are more than other major is advised.

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