SELF-PERCEPTION AND INFLUENCING FACTORS IN NURSING STUDENTS IN THE CONTEXT OF INTERCULTURAL SENSITIVITY AND SOCIAL COMPARISON

Abstract

Aim: This study is to examine the relationship of self-perception and influencing factors in nursing students in the context of intercultural sensitivity and social comparison. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in 2017 through an online questionnaire application on nursing students studying at a faculty of health sciences. The data were collected using the socio-demographic questionnaire developed by the researchers, the Intercultural Sensitivity Scale (ISS) and the Social Comparison Scale (SCS). Results: Participants generally showed a moderate level of intercultural sensitivity. Female students, who speak and understand foreign languages at the level of speaking and understanding, who want to study at a university in another country with a student exchange program (Erasmus, Socrates, etc.) and who want to work abroad after graduation who living in the metropolitan area have been determined that the mean scores of those are significantly higher. A weak relationship has been found between intercultural sensitivity and social comparison. Conclusion: Intercultural sensitivity is affected by demographic characteristics and social comparison may be an influencing factor. This study, which examines the relationship between social comparison and intercultural sensitivity in terms of nursing students and nursing profession executives, contributes to the literature.