Nursing and Social Work students’ perceived professional competence, self-efficacy, life stressors and mental health

Authors

  • Μαρία Παπαδακάκη Hellenic Mediterranean University
  • Σταυρούλα Λιόλιου Hellenic Mediterranean University
  • Βασιλική Κουνάλη Hellenic Mediterranean University
  • Αναστασία Λιάνγκου Hellenic Mediterranean University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26248/eleutherna.v12i0.1545

Keywords:

perceived professional competence, self-efficacy, higher education students, mental health, stressful life events, Social Work, Nursing

Abstract

Perceived professional competence and self-efficacy are complex terms, which have been widely identified in concurrent literature as predictive criteria of future development and settlement of higher education students. The current study aimed at exploring factors affecting perceived professional competence and self-efficacy of Social Work and Nursing students of the Hellenic Mediterranean University. The study employed a sample of 313 students (171 Social Work, 142 Nursing). The questionnaire explored participants’ sociodemographic and academic factors, perceived professional competence and self-efficacy (Nursing Competency Self Efficacy (NCSE) Scale for Outgoing Nursing Students), mental health symptoms during the past month (Symptom Checklist List, SCL 90-R) and life stressors during the past year (Life Stress Inventory, LSI). A total of 67.3% of the participants reported life stressors during the past year, with 17.6% reporting the highest burden. All the mental health scales of SCL-90 were found to have a negative linear relationship with perceived professional competence and self-efficacy but no relationship was detected with regard to life stressors. Participants’ age, working status, subject and year of studies, as well as prior knowledge and high preference of the study subject, were shown to be significantly related with perceived professional competence and self-efficacy. The study has several implications for the educational and the health policy.

Author Biographies

Μαρία Παπαδακάκη, Hellenic Mediterranean University

Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, School of Health Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University

Σταυρούλα Λιόλιου, Hellenic Mediterranean University

Psychologist, MSc, PhD(c), Department of Social Work, School of Health Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University

Βασιλική Κουνάλη, Hellenic Mediterranean University

Psychologist, MSc, Research Assistant, Department of Social Work, School of Health Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University

Αναστασία Λιάνγκου, Hellenic Mediterranean University

Social Worker, Research Assistant, Department of Social Work, School of Health Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University

Published

2021-10-06

How to Cite

Παπαδακάκη Μ., Λιόλιου Σ., Κουνάλη Β., & Λιάνγκου Α. (2021). Nursing and Social Work students’ perceived professional competence, self-efficacy, life stressors and mental health. ELEUTHERNA, 12, 129–158. https://doi.org/10.26248/eleutherna.v12i0.1545