Concept Analysis of Social Support of Nursing Students Using a Hybrid Model

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the concept of social support of nursing students using a hybrid model and to derive a definition and attributes of social support through theoretical, fieldwork, and final analysis stages. Twenty-nine studies were analyzed in the theoretical stage. Seventeen in-depth interviews were conducted with nursing students in the fieldwork stage. In the final analysis stage, the concept of social support was defined and the attributes were derived by integrating the theoretical and fieldwork stages. The attributes of social support of nursing students identified in the final analysis consisted of two dimensions and eight attributes. The two dimensions were structural and functional support. The eight attributes were social network, educational, emotional, informational, economic, positive evaluation, self-esteem support, and support by providing a role model provision. The structural dimension included the social network support attribute. The functional dimension included the remaining seven attributes. Educational support and support by providing of a role model provision were newly derived attributes that reflected specific characteristics of nursing students. Based on the results of this study, we suggest that researchers should attempt to develop a scale to measure the social support of nursing students.