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

Fatma Tanrıkulu; Ayşe Gül Burcu; Esmanur Karaman; Sevcan Alioğlu

doi:10.55993/hegp.1690945

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

Abstract

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.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK)

Project Number

1919B012205897

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Sakarya University of Applied Sciences (Approval Number: E-26428519-044-70894).

Thanks

We would like to thank all the international nursing students who participated in the study.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Internationalization in Higher Education, Higher Education Studies (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Fatma Tanrıkulu ^*
0000-0003-1203-5852
Türkiye

Ayşe Gül Burcu This is me
0009-0003-3008-0523
Türkiye

Esmanur Karaman
Türkiye

Sevcan Alioğlu This is me
0009-0000-8625-7154
Türkiye

Publication Date

April 28, 2026

Submission Date

May 4, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 26, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 7 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.55993/hegp.1690945

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA37FB83SE

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Tanrıkulu, F., Burcu, A. G., Karaman, E., & Alioğlu, S. (2026). The Effect of a Peer-Assisted Adjustment Programme for International Nursing Students on Adjustment to University Life and Nursing Education Stress. Higher Education Governance and Policy, 7(1), 17-27. https://doi.org/10.55993/hegp.1690945

AMA

1.Tanrıkulu F, Burcu AG, Karaman E, Alioğlu S. The Effect of a Peer-Assisted Adjustment Programme for International Nursing Students on Adjustment to University Life and Nursing Education Stress. HEGP. 2026;7(1):17-27. doi:10.55993/hegp.1690945

Chicago

Tanrıkulu, Fatma, Ayşe Gül Burcu, Esmanur Karaman, and Sevcan Alioğlu. 2026. “The Effect of a Peer-Assisted Adjustment Programme for International Nursing Students on Adjustment to University Life and Nursing Education Stress”. Higher Education Governance and Policy 7 (1): 17-27. https://doi.org/10.55993/hegp.1690945.

EndNote

Tanrıkulu F, Burcu AG, Karaman E, Alioğlu S (April 1, 2026) The Effect of a Peer-Assisted Adjustment Programme for International Nursing Students on Adjustment to University Life and Nursing Education Stress. Higher Education Governance and Policy 7 1 17–27.

IEEE

[1]F. Tanrıkulu, A. G. Burcu, E. Karaman, and S. Alioğlu, “The Effect of a Peer-Assisted Adjustment Programme for International Nursing Students on Adjustment to University Life and Nursing Education Stress”, HEGP, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 17–27, Apr. 2026, doi: 10.55993/hegp.1690945.

ISNAD

Tanrıkulu, Fatma - Burcu, Ayşe Gül - Karaman, Esmanur - Alioğlu, Sevcan. “The Effect of a Peer-Assisted Adjustment Programme for International Nursing Students on Adjustment to University Life and Nursing Education Stress”. Higher Education Governance and Policy 7/1 (April 1, 2026): 17-27. https://doi.org/10.55993/hegp.1690945.

JAMA

1.Tanrıkulu F, Burcu AG, Karaman E, Alioğlu S. The Effect of a Peer-Assisted Adjustment Programme for International Nursing Students on Adjustment to University Life and Nursing Education Stress. HEGP. 2026;7:17–27.

MLA

Tanrıkulu, Fatma, et al. “The Effect of a Peer-Assisted Adjustment Programme for International Nursing Students on Adjustment to University Life and Nursing Education Stress”. Higher Education Governance and Policy, vol. 7, no. 1, Apr. 2026, pp. 17-27, doi:10.55993/hegp.1690945.

Vancouver

1.Fatma Tanrıkulu, Ayşe Gül Burcu, Esmanur Karaman, Sevcan Alioğlu. The Effect of a Peer-Assisted Adjustment Programme for International Nursing Students on Adjustment to University Life and Nursing Education Stress. HEGP. 2026 Apr. 1;7(1):17-2. doi:10.55993/hegp.1690945