Peer counseling for nursing students social-emotional learning skills and social self-impact on competency

PEER COUNSELING'S EFFECTS ON NURSING STUDENTS' SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING SKILLS AND SOCIAL SELF-EFFECT ON COMPETENCY Ayşe Nur AYDEMİR Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Graduate Education Institute Department of Nursing Education, Nursing Education Program Advisor: Assoc. Dr. Emine ŞENYUVA (2024).The Effect of Peer Counseling on Nursing Students' Social Emotional Learning Skills and Social Self-Efficacy. Master's Thesis. Istanbul.In addition to existing professional knowledge and skills, nursing also includes being aware of high-level emotions, managing emotions, listening effectively, understanding the individual, empathizing, communicating effectively, engaging in social interactions and relationships, etc. It is a profession that involves skills. Peer counseling is one of the most effective methods in improving nursing students' social emotional learning skills and social self-efficacy. The research aimed to determine the effect of peer counseling on nursing students' social emotional learning skills and social self-efficacy. The research is in a randomized controlled experimental research design. The population of the research was determined as all second-year students (N: 228) studying at the Faculty of Nursing at one of the state universities in Istanbul in the 2023-2024 academic year. 23 peer counselors were assigned to 47 peers in the intervention group. Peers in the control group were not assigned a peer counselor. As data collection tools in the research; Peer Counselor Information Form, Peer Information Form, Social Emotional Learning Skills Scale, Social Self-Efficacy Scale were used. During the evaluation, descriptive statistical analyzes and independent t-test were used for the difference in two independent groups to compare quantitative data in normally distributed data, and analysis of variance method was used for repeated measurements in comparisons of more than two dependent stages.It is seen that the intervention group's Social Emotional Learning Skills Scale total score average at the 3rd month follow-up is higher than the pre-application score average. There was no statistically significant difference between the Social Emotional Learning Skills Scale total score average of the control group. A significant difference was found between the Social Self-Efficacy Scale mean scores of the intervention and control groups. It is seen that the 3rd month follow-up score of the intervention group is higher. The 3rd month follow-up score average of the intervention group's sub-dimensions of friendship relations, social initiative, being comfortable in front of a crowd, being able to participate in a group, and the Social Self-Efficacy Scale is higher than the control group. The 3rd month follow-up score average of the social support/assistance sub-dimension of the control group is higher than the intervention group. With the findings obtained; providing peer counselors with Peer Counselor Training, which includes activities/studies that will support the development of peers' social emotional learning skills and social self-efficacy and will guide them in this regard, and providing environments where peer counselors and peers can work together in order to ensure the development of peers' social emotional learning skills and social self-efficacy. It may be recommended to carry out social projects and support student participation and socialization by directing them to student clubs and sports activities at universities/faculties. November, 2024, 113 pages. Keywords: Peer counseling, Peer, Peer counselor, Social emotional learning skills, Nursing student, Social self-efficacy