Happiness and Achievement Motivation among Iranian Nursing Students: A Descriptive Correlational Study

Abstract

Background. Happiness and achievement motivation are two important concepts in students’ lives. Therefore, this study was aimed at investigating the association between happiness and achievement motivation in undergraduate nursing students and examining their relationship with students’ demographic characteristics. Method. A descriptive correlational study was undertaken; 255 undergraduate nursing students enrolled in one nursing school in an urban area of Iran during the academic year 2017-2018 were included in the study using census method sampling. The demographic data questionnaire, Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ), and Hermans Achievement Motivation Questionnaire (HAMQ) were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using univariate analysis and multivariate linear regression analysis. Results. The total mean (SD) of happiness and achievement motivation scores were 40.73 (11.20) and 82.61 (7.50), respectively. There was a direct significant correlation between happiness and achievement motivation ( r = 0.36 , p < 0.001 ). An inverse significant association between happiness and students 21-24 years old ( β = − 3.99 , p < 0.03 ) was found. There was a direct significant association between happiness and being married ( β = 5.33 , p = 0.03 ) and interest in nursing ( β = 4.78 , p = 0.02 ). Additionally, achievement motivation was associated directly with female gender ( β = 1.93 , p = 0.03 ) and interest in nursing ( β = 3.71 , p = 0.005 ) and inversely associated with studying in the fourth academic year ( β = − 3.06 , p = 0.03 ) and history of course drops ( β = − 3.45 , p = 0.002 ). Conclusion. Our study indicated that there was a direct significant relationship between happiness and achievement motivation in undergraduate nursing students. Therefore, officials and nursing education lecturers should consider programs to increase students’ happiness, such as counseling or emotional support programs and workshops.

The Association between Nursing Students’ Happiness, Emotional Intelligence, and Perceived Caring Behavior in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia

“…Care and compassion are prerequisites for nursing practice [ 7 , 18 ]. Nurses play a central role in delivering holistic patient care by addressing the patient’s physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs, enabling them to deal with their illness, restore their balance, and improve their lives [ 8 , 23 ]. Thus, the nursing practice is centered around caring and the caring behavior of nurses, which has a definite impact on the quality of patient care and patient satisfaction [ 7 , 18 ].…”

“…Research has also shown relationships between happiness and depression, self-esteem, and interpersonal relationships among nursing students, which all may be associated with caring behaviors. Happiness is a subjective experience and a stable emotional state characterized by pleasant feelings and gratification, a sense of overall wellbeing, joy, prosperity, and personal growth [ 8 , 9 ]. Happiness is linked to reduced stress levels, increased resilience, greater self-confidence, and positive emotions and attitudes [ 10 , 11 ].…”

Inequity on suburban campuses: University students disadvantaged in self‐improvement travel

“…During the interviews, most of the students on urban campuses mentioned that “the subway is convenient in Shanghai,” whereas most of the students on suburban campuses complained that “there is no subway station and the bus is so slow and always late.” These findings suggest that low transportation accessibility puts suburban university students at a disadvantage when they apply for jobs after graduation. Additionally, perceived lower transit accessibility is related to lower happiness (Gim, 2020), which may be harmful to students' achievement motivations (Amani Nezhad et al., 2022).…”

“…These findings suggest that low transportation accessibility puts suburban university students at a disadvantage when they apply for jobs after graduation. Additionally, perceived lower transit accessibility is related to lower happiness (Gim, 2020), which may be harmful to students' achievement motivations (Amani Nezhad et al, 2022).…”

The Use of Motivational Interview in Educations to Provide Professional Nursing Care of Students

“…Gelecek durumla ilgili olumsuz tahminler, kötü senaryo oluşturma, olumsuza odaklanma ya da kötümser düşünme çıkmazı, hiçbir aktivite, önlem ya da davranış geliştirmeden kişiyi yorabilir. Hemşirelik öğrencileriyle yürütülen bir çalışmada mutluluk ile başarı motivasyonu arasında doğrudan anlamlı bir ilişki olduğu gösterilmiştir (18). Bazen bu kavram kişilerin duygusal zeka becerileri ile ilişkilendirilmektedir.…”