Adaptation of Freshmen of Faculty of Education to University Life: Predictive Role of Peer Support

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the role of peer support predicts the level of universtiy adaptation of first year university students. In this study, correlational survey method was used. Study samle of the research consisted of 468 students from the faculty of educational sciences. University Life Adaptation Scale and Peer Support Scales were used for data collection. Data obtained from the research were analysed by Simple Linear Regression Analysis and Pearson Moments Multiplier Correlation Coefficient. As a result of the study, it was determined that there was a positive and meaningful relationship between students' adaptation to university life and peer support. The results showed that peer support was predictors adaptation to university life. Findings were discussed under the light of literature. 

Keywords

• Adaptation to university life,University first-year students,Peer support

Eğitim Fakültesi Birinci Sınıf Öğrencilerinin Üniversite Yaşamına Uyumları: Akran Desteğinin Yordayıcı Rolü

Öz

Bu araştırma, akran desteğinin üniversite birinci sınıf öğrencilerinin üniversiteye uyum düzeylerini yordamadaki rolünü incelemek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Araştırmada ilişkisel tarama yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın örneklemini 468 eğitim fakültesi öğrencisi oluşturmaktadır. Veri toplama aracı olarak “Üniversite Yaşamına Uyum Ölçeği” ve “Akran Desteği Ölçeği” kullanılmıştır. Verilerin analizi için Basit Regresyon Analizi yöntemi ve Pearson Momentler Çarpımı Korelasyon Katsayısı kullanılmıştır. Çalışmanın sonucunda, öğrencilerin üniversite yaşamına uyumları ile akran desteği arasında pozitif yönde ve anlamlı ilişkilerin olduğu belirlenmiştir. Bulgular, akran desteğinin üniversite yaşamına uyumu anlamlı bir şekilde yordadığını göstermiştir. Bulgular alan yazın ışığında tartışılmış ve ileride yapılacak araştırmalara yönelik bazı önerilerde bulunulmuştur.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Üniversite yaşamına uyum,Birinci sınıf öğrencisi,Akran desteği

Kaynakça

1. Aladağ, M., Kağnıcı, D. Y., Tuna, M. E., & Tezer, E. (2003). Üniversite yaşamı ölçeği: Ölçek geliştirme ve yapı geçerliği üzerine bir çalışma. Psikolojik Danışma ve Rehberlik Dergisi, 2(20), 41-47.
2. Aladağ, M. (2009). Evaluation of the peer helping program conducted for university adjustment. Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Journal, 4(31), 12-22.
3. Ackermann, M. E., & Morrow, J. A. (2007). A principal components analysis and validation of the Coping with the College Environment Scale. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 9(2), 133-148.
4. Aspinwall, L. G., & Taylor, S. E. (1992). Modeling cognitive adaptation: A longitudinal investigation of the impact of individual differences and coping on college adjustment and performance. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology,63(6), 989–1003.
5. Balcıoğlu, İ. (2001). Stres, gençlik, kentleşme, şiddet. Yeni Symposium, 39(1),49-56.
6. Barker, E. T., & Galambos, N. L. (2007). Body dissatisfaction, living away from parents, and poor social adjustment predict bing eating symptoms in young women making the transition to university. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 36(7), 904-911.
7. Baker, S. E. (2009). An examination of friendship quality and affective representations of friendship in childeren perinatally infected with hıv, childern with asthma and healty childern of hıv- positive mothers (Doctoral thesis). Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. (UMI No. 3399836).
8. Bayraktar, F. (2007). Olumlu ergen gelişiminde ebeveyn/ akran ilişkilerinin önemi. Çocuk ve Gençlik Ruh Sağlığı Dergisi, 14(3), 157-166.

9. Blimling, G. S., & Miltenberger, J. L (1995). The resident assistant: Working with college students in residence halls. Dubuque: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.
10. Brown, B. B., Eicher, S. A., & Petrie, S. (1986). The importance of peer group “crowd” affiliation in adolescence. Journal of Adolescence, 9(1), 73-96.
11. Buote, V. M., Pancer, S. M., Pratt, M. W., Adams, G., Birnie-Lefcovitch, S., Polivy, J., & Wintre, M. G. (2007). The importance of friends: Friendship and adjustment among 1st-year university students. Journal of Adolescent Research, 22(6), 665-689.
12. Bulut, C., & Serin, N. B. (2016). Öğretmen adaylarının üniversite yaşamına uyum düzeyleri ile yaşam doyumu arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesi. International Journal of New Trends in Arts, Sports & Science Education, 5(4),1-7.
13. Bülbül, T. (2012). Yükseköğretimde okul terki: Nedenler ve çözümler. Eğitim ve Bilim, 37(166), 219-235.
14. Bülbül, T., & Acar Güvendir, M. (2014). Üniversite birinci sınıf öğrencilerinin yükseköğretim yaşamına uyum düzeylerinin incelenmesi. Eğitim Bilimleri Araştırmaları Dergisi, 4(1), 397-418.
15. Can, A. (2018). SPSS ile bilimsel araştırma sürecinde nicel veri analizi. Ankara: Pegem Akademi Yayınları. Chang, E. C., Sanna, L. J., Riley, M. M., Thornburg, A. M., Zumberg, K. M., & Edwards, M. C. (2007).
16. Relations between problem-solving styles and psychological adjustment in young adults: Is stress a mediating variable?. Personality and Individual Differences, 42(1), 135-144.
17. Clinciu, A. I. (2013). Adaptation and stress for the first year university students. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 78, 718-722.
18. Cohen, S., & Wills, T. A. (1985). Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis. Psychological Bulletin, 98(2), 310-357.
19. Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2000). Research methods in education. London New York: Routledge Falmer.
20. Constantine M., & Arorash T. (2001) Universal-diverse orientation and general expectations about counselling: Their relation to college students’ multicultural counselling expectations. Journal of College Student Development, 42(6),535–544.
21. Cutrona, C. E., Cole, V., Colangelo, N., Assouline, S. G., & Rusell, D. W. (1994). Perceived parental social support and academic achievement: An attachment theory perspective. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 66(2), 369-378.
22. Çalışandemir, F., & Baltacı, H. Ş. (2017). Okul öncesi öğretmen adaylarının üniversiteye uyum düzeylerinin yordayıcıları olarak yaşam doyumu ve genel öz-yeterlik. Mehmet Akif Ersoy Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 44, 229-249.
23. Çalışkan, T., & Çınar, S. (2012). Akran Desteği: Geçerlik güvenirlik çalışması. Marmara Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü Dergisi, 2(1), 1-7.
24. DeBerard, M. S., Spielmans, G. I., & Julka, D. L. (2004). Predictors of academic achievement and retention among college freshmen: A longitudinal study. College Student Journal, 38(1),66-80. Dennis C. (2003) The effect of peer support on postpartum depression: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry,48(2), 115-124.
25. Dennis, J. M., Phinney, J. S., & Chuateco, L. I. (2005). The role of motivation, parental support, and peer support in the academic success of ethnic minority first-generation college students. Journal of College Student Development, 46(3), 223-236.
26. Dunkel‐Schetter, C., & Lobel, M. (1990). Stress among students. New Directions for Student Services, 49,17-34.
27. Dursun, G. (2002). Aile psikolojisi ve eğitimi. Eskişehir: Anadolu Üniversitesi Yayınları.
28. Dyson, R., & Renk, K. (2006). Freshmen adaptation to university life: Depressive symptoms, stress, and coping. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 62(10), 1231-1244.
29. Earwaker, J. (1992). Helping and supporting students: Rethinking the issues. Philadelphia: Open University Press.
30. Erdoğan, S., Şanlı, H. S., & Şimşek Bekir, H. (2005). Gazi üniversitesi, eğitim fakültesi öğrencilerinin üniversite yaşamına uyum durumları. Kastamonu Eğitim Dergisi, 13(2), 479-496.
31. Fraenkel, J. R., Wallen, N. E., & Hyun, H. H. (2012). How to design and evaluate research in education. New York: McGraw Hill.
32. Gall, T. L., Evans, D. R., & Bellerose, S. (2000). Transition to first-year university: Patterns of change in adjustment across life domains and time. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 19(4), 544-567.
33. Gerdes, H., & Mallinckrodt, B. (1994). Emotional, social, and academic adjustment of college students: A longitudinal study of retention. Journal of Counseling & Development, 72(3), 281-288.
34. Giddan, N. S. (1988). Community and social support for college students. Springfield, Illinois: Thomas Publisher.
35. Grant-Vallone, E., Reid, K., Umali, C., & Pohlert, E. (2004). An analysis of the effects of self-esteem, social support, and participation in student support services on students' adjustment and commitment to college. Journal of College Student Retention, 5(3), 255-274.
36. Grayson, P. A., & Meilman, P. W. (1992). Beating the college blues: A student's guide to coping with the emotional ups and downs of college life. New York: Facts on File.
37. Grayson, J. P., & Grayson, K. (2003). Research on retention and attrition. Does money matter: Millennium research series, Canada: The Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation.
38. Gültekin, N., Çelik, A., & Nas, Z. (2008). Üniversitelerin kuruldukları kente katkıları. Elektronik Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 7(24), 264-269.
39. Hamilton, S. F., & Hamilton, M. A. (2006). School, work and emerging adulthood. In J. J. Arnett & J. L. Tanner (Ed.), Emerging adults in America: Coming of age in the 21st Century (pp. 440-473). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
40. Hirsch, B. J. (1980). Natural support systems and coping with major life changes. American Journal of Community Psychology, 8(2),159-172.
41. Horgan, A., Sweeney, J., Behan, L., & McCarthy, G. (2016). Depressive symptoms, college adjustment and peer support among undergraduate nursing and midwifery students. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 72(12), 3081-3092.
42. Hurtado, S., Carter, D. F., & Spuler, A. (1996). Latino student transition to college: Assessing difficulties and factors in successful college adjustment. Research in Higher Education, 37(2), 135-157.
43. Huang, Y. (2000). A theory foundation in college student affairs-psychosocial development of college students in taiwan. Bulletin of Civic and Moral Education, 9, 161-200.
44. House, J. S. (1981). Work stress and social support. Addison-Wesley: Reading Publishing.
45. İkiz, F. E., & Otlu, B. M. (2015). Üniversite yaşamına uyum sürecinde yaşanan sorunlar ve başa çıkma yolları. Celal Bayar Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 13(4), 35-52. Jackson, L. M., Pancer, S. M., Pratt, M. W., & Hunsberger, B. E. (2000). Great expectations: The relation between expectancies and adjustment during the transition to university. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 30(10), 2100-2125.
46. Kaba, İ., & Keklik, İ. (2016). Öğrencilerin üniversite yaşamına uyumlarında psikolojik dayanıklılık ve psikolojik belirtiler. The Journal of Educational Research, 2(2), 98-113.
47. Karahan, F., Sardoğan, M. E., Özkamalı, E., & Dicle, A. N. (2005). Üniversite 1. sınıf öğrencilerinin üniversiteye uyum düzeylerinin sosyokültürel etkinlikler açısından incelenmesi. Çukurova Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 2(30), 63-71.
48. Kreig, D. B. (2013). High expectations for higher education? Perceptions of college and experiences of stress prior to and through the college career. College Student Journal, 47(4), 635–643.
49. Köknel, Ö. (1993). İnsanı anlamak. İstanbul: Altın Kitaplar.
50. Köknel Ö. (1999). Ergenlik dönemi. Ana-Baba okulu. İstanbul: Remzi Kitabevi.
51. Kurç, G. (1989). Bazı kişisel sosyal ekonomik ve kültürel değişkenlerin lise öğrencilerinin uyum alanları ve uyum Yöntemlerine Etkisi. Yayınlanmamış Doktora Tezi, Hacattepe Üniversitesi, Ankara.
52. Langston, C. A., &. Cantor, N. (1989). Social anxiety and social constraint: When making friends is hard. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 56(4), 649-661.
53. Leong, F. T., Bonz, M. H., & Zachar, P. (1997). Coping styles as predictors of college adjustment among freshmen. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 10(2), 211-220.
54. Levitz, R., & Noel, L. (1989). Connecting Students to institutions: Keys to retention and success. In M. L. Upcraft & J. N. Gardner (Ed.), The freshman year experience: Helping students survive and succeed in college (pp. 65- 81). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
55. Martin Jr, W. E., Swartz‐Kulstad, J. L., & Madson, M. (1999). Psychosocial factors that predict the college adjustment of first-year undergraduate students: Implications for college counselors. Journal of College Counseling, 2(2), 121-133.
56. Mattanah, J. F., Hancock, G. R., & Brand, B. L. (2004). Parental attachment, separation-individuation, and college student adjustment: A structural equation analysis of mediational effects. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 51(2), 213-225.
57. Mercan, Ç. S., & Yıldız, S. A. (2011). Eğitim fakültesi birinci sınıf öğrencilerinin üniversiteye uyum düzeylerinin farklı değişkenler açısından incelenmesi. Hasan Ali Yücel Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 8(2), 135-154.
58. Montgomery, M. J., & Côté, J. E. (2003). College as a transition to adulthood. In G. R. Adams & M. D. Berzonsky (Ed.), Blackwell handbook of adolescence (pp.149-172). Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.
59. Myrick, R. D. & Folk, B. E. (1999). The power of peervention: A manual for the trainers of peer facilitators. Minneapolis: Educational Media Corporation.
60. Nazlı, S. (2008). Kapsamlı gelişimsel rehberlik. Ankara: Savaş Yayıncılık.
61. Oaten, M., & Cheng, K. (2005). Academic examination stress impairs self–control. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 24(2), 254-279.
62. ÖSYS Basın Duyurusu. (2018). (Erişim: 01.02.2018), https://dokuman.osym.gov.tr/pdfdokuman/2018/YKS/YER/SayisalBilgiler31082018.pdf
63. Özkan, S., & Yılmaz, E. (2010). Üniversite öğrencilerinin üniversite yaşamına uyum durumları: Bandırma örneği. Fırat Sağlık Hizmetleri Dergisi, 5(13), 151-173.
64. Özlük, B., & Karaaslan, A. (2017). Sağlık bilimleri fakültesi birinci sınıf öğrencilerinin üniversite yaşamına uyumunda akran desteğinin etkisi. Uluslararası Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi, 10(4), 209-222.
65. Pancer, S. M., Hunsberger, B., Pratt, M. W., & Alisat, S. (2000). Cognitive complexity of expectations and adjustment to university in the first year. Journal of Adolescent Research, 15(1), 38-57.
66. Rahat, E., & İlhan, T. (2016). Coping styles, social support, relational self-construal, and resilience in predicting Students' adjustment to university life. Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice, 16(1), 187-208.
67. Ramsay, S., Jones, E., & Barker, M. (2007). Relationship between adjustment and support types: Young and mature-aged local and international first year university students. Higher Education, 54(2), 247-265.
68. Richey, M. H., & Richey, H. W. (1980). The significance of best-friend relationships in adolescence. Psychology in the Schools, 17(4), 536-540.
69. Salami, S. O. (2011). Psychosocial predictors of adjustment among frst year college of education students. US-China Education Review, 8(2), 239-248.
70. Sertel, E., Yıldırım, H., & Özmen-Akyol, S. (2017). Meslek yüksekokulu öğrencilerinin okul tercih sebepleri ve uyum durumları: Sivrihisar örneği. Mehmet Akif Ersoy Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 9(21), 101-117.
71. Simons, J. A., Kalichman, S. C., & Santrock, J. W. (1994). Human adjustment, Madison, WI: Brown & Benchmark Pub.
72. Shamionov, R. M., Grigoryeva, M. V., & Grigoryev, A. V. (2014). Influence of beliefs and motivation on social-psychological adaptation among university students. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 112, 323-332.
73. Solberg, V. S., Valdez, J., & Villareal, P. (1994). Social support, stress and Hispanic college adjustment: Test of a diathesis- stress model. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 16(3), 230-239.
74. Solberg, V. S., & Villarreal, P. (1997). Examination of self-efficacy, social support, and stress as predictors of psychological and physical distress among Hispanic college students. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 19(2),182-201.
75. Somera, L. P., & Ellis, B. H. (1996). Communication networks and perceptions of social support as antecedents to college adjustment: A comparison between student commuters and campus residents. Journal of the Association for Communication Administration, 2, 97-110.
76. Tao, S., Dong, Q., Pratt, M., Hunsberger, B., & Pancer, S. (2000). Social support: Relations to coping and adjustment during the transition to university in the people’s republic of China. Journal of Adolescent Research, 15(1), 123-144.
77. Thoits, P. A. (1985). Social support and well-being: Theoretical possibilities. In I. G. Sarason & B. R. Sarason (Ed.), Social support: Theory, research and applications (pp. 51-72). The Netherlands: Martinus Nijhoff.
78. Thoits, P. A. (1986). Social support as coping assistance. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54(4), 416-423.
79. Thoits, P. A. (1995). Stress, coping, and social support processes: Where are we? What next?. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 53-79.
80. Thurber, C. A., & Walton, E. A. (2012). Homesickness and adjustment in university students. Journal of American College Health, 60(5), 415-419.
81. Tinto, V. (1997). Universities as learning organizationas. About Campus, 1, 2–4.
82. Tinto, V. (1998). Colleges as communities: Taking research on student persistence seriously. The Review of Higher Education, 21(2),167-177.
83. Toews, M. L., & Yazedjian, A. (2007). College adjustment among freshmen: Predictors for white and hispanic males and females. College Student Journal, 41(4), 891-900.
84. Tokuno, K. A. (1986). The early adult transition and friendships: Mechanisms of support. Adolescence, 21(83), 593-606.
85. Uehara, T., Takeuchi, K., Kubota, F., Oshima, K., & Ishikawa, O. (2010). Annual transition of major depressive episode in university students using a structured self‐rating questionnaire. Asia-Pacific Psychiatry, 2(2), 99-104.
86. Weiss, R. (1974). The provisions of social relationships. In Z. Rubin (Ed.), Doing unto others (pp. 17-27). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
87. Wilburn, V. R., & Smith, D. E. (2005). Stress, self-esteem, and suicidal ideation in late adolescents. Adolescence, 40 (157), 33-45.
88. Whiteman, S. D., Barry, A. E., Mroczek, D. K., & MacDermid Wadsworth, S. (2013). The development and implications of peer emotional support for student service members/veterans and civilian college students. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 60(2), 265-278.
89. Wintre, M. G., & Yaffe, M. (2000). First-year students’ adjustment to university life as a function of relationships with parents. Journal of Adolescent Research, 15(1), 9-37.
90. Van Overwalle, F. (1989). Success and failure of freshmen at university: a search for determinants. Higher Education, 18(3), 287-308.
91. Yavuzer, H. (2003). Çocuk psikolojisi. İstanbul: Remzi Kitabevi.
92. Yeh, S. K. (2006). Campus life of and its meaning to university students. Integrated higher education database system, (Erişim: 20.04.2019). http://www.cher.ntnu.edu.tw/epaperi/topics/nindex2.php?no=3
93. Youniss, J. (1980). Parents and peers in social development: A Sullivan-Piaget perspective. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
94. Yun Lee, S. (2008). Peer reciprocity, acceptence and friendship quality in chidren with autism in general educational settings. (Doctoral thesis). Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. (UMI No. 3335941).
95. Zea, M. C., Jarama, S. L., & Bianchi, F. T. (1995). Social support and psychosocial competence: Explaining the adaptation to college of ethnically diverse students. American Journal of Community Psychology, 23(4), 509-531.