Everything’ll be Fine Together! Peer Support in the Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Study

Year 2025,

Sevim Şen Olgay , Hediye Arslan , Begüm Kırık , Ceren Zeren

https://doi.org/10.17049/jnursology.1429829

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to examine the effects of a peer support program implemented for Health Sciences Faculty students who were isolated due to the COVID-19 pandemic on their levels of loneliness, stigma, and anxiety.

Methods: The study was conducted using a mixed-methods design between September 2020 and February 2022. The quantitative component included a sample of 66 students. Data were collected before and after the peer support program using sociodemographic information form, the UCLA Loneliness Scale, the Stigma Scale, and the Epidemic Anxiety Scale. Descriptive statistics and paired sample t-tests were used for data analysis in group comparisons. In the qualitative component, individual in-depth interviews were conducted with 11 students selected through purposive sampling in a face-to-face setting. The qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis, with themes and subthemes identified.

Results: The mean scores of the scales before and after the peer support program were, respectively, 15.18±2.57 and 14.56±2.48 for the UCLA Loneliness Scale, 38.69±11.00 and 35.66±11.47 for the Stigma Scale, and 50.50±13.36 and 46.24±15.69 for the Epidemic Anxiety Scale. After the program, there was a statistically significant decrease in the stigma and anxiety levels of the participants with peer support. The study identified two main themes: "Experiences related to the isolation process" and "Coping strategies during the isolation process."

Conclusion: It is recommended to develop global peer support education programs to support students' well-being in disaster situations such as pandemics.

Keywords

Anxiety disorders, COVID-19, nursing students, social isolation

Her Şey Birlikte Güzel Olacak! Pandemide Akran Desteği: Bir Karma Yöntem Çalışması

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışma, COVID-19 pandemisi nedeniyle izolasyona alınan Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi öğrencileri için uygulanan akran destek programının yalnızlık, damgalanma ve kaygı düzeyleri üzerindeki etkilerini incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır.

Yöntemler: Araştırma, Eylül 2020 ile Şubat 2022 tarihleri arasında karma yöntem deseniyle gerçekleştirilmiştir. Nicel bölümde örneklem 66 öğrenci ile oluşturulmuştur. Veriler, akran desteği programı öncesi ve sonrası sosyodemografik bilgi formu, UCLA Yalnızlık Ölçeği, Stigma Ölçeği ve Salgın Hastalık Kaygı Ölçeği ile toplanmıştır. Verilerin analizinde tanımlayıcı istatistikler ve gruplar arası karşılaştırmalarda eşleştirilmiş örneklem t testi kullanılmıştır. Nitel bölümde ise yüz yüze ortamda, amaçlı örneklem doğrultusunda 11 öğrenci ile bireysel derinlemesine görüşme yapılmıştır. Nitel veriler tematik analiz ile analiz edilerek tema ve alt temalar oluşturulmuştur.

Bulgular: Ölçeklerin akran destek programı öncesi ve sonrası ortalama puanları sırasıyla UCLA Yalnızlık Ölçeği için 15.18±2.57 ve 14.56±2.48, Stigma Ölçeği için 38.69±11.00 ve 35.66±11.47, Salgın Hastalık Kaygı Ölçeği için ise 50.50±13.36 ve 46.24±15.69 olarak bulunmuştur. Program sonrasında akran desteği alan katılımcıların damgalanma ve anksiyete düzeylerinde istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir azalma tespit edilmiştir. Çalışmada iki ana tema belirlenmiştir: "İzolasyon sürecine ilişkin deneyimler" ve "İzolasyon sürecinde başa çıkma stratejileri."

Sonuç: Pandemi gibi afet durumlarında öğrencilerin iyilik halini desteklemek için küresel akran desteği eğitim programlarının geliştirilmesi önerilmektedir.

Keywords

Anksiyete, COVID-19, hemşirelik öğrenciler, sosyal izolasyon

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