The Effect of Peer Counseling on Individual, Social and Academic Adaptation of Nursing Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: The study aimed to determine the effect of peer counseling on nursing students’ individual, social, and academic adaptation. Methods: The study was a randomized controlled trial design. A total of 80 1st-year students, 40 in the intervention and 40 in the control group were determined to be peers. Peer Counselor Selection Form, Peer Selection Form, Peer Counselor Information Form, Peer Information Form, University Life Adaptation Scale, Individual Development Initiative Scale, Peer Follow-up Form were the data collection tools in the study. Quantitative data were analyzed in SPSS 21.0. Document analysis was used to analyze the statements in the Peer Monitoring Form. Results: In the study, a significant difference was found between the mean scores of the Personal Adjustment sub-dimension of the Adjustment to University Life Scale before, after, and six months after the completion of peer counseling, while no significant difference was found between the mean scores of the Academic and Social Adjustment sub-dimensions of the peers in the intervention and control groups. There was significant difference between the mean scores of the peers in the intervention and control groups on the Individual Development Initiatives Scale before and after peer counseling and six months after the completion of peer counseling. Conclusion: According to the results obtained from this study, organizing activities that will reveal the importance of peer counseling in individual, social, and academic adaptation, preparation for the profession, and increasing students' knowledge and awareness, formal structuring of peer counseling in line with the process, evaluation the results.