Relationship of Peer Support and Learning Motivation among Nursing Students in Aceh, Indonesia

OBJECTIVE: The study aims to investigate the relationship between peer support and learning motivation among nursing students at Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK). METHODOLOGY: This research study employs a descriptive correlational design with a cross-sectional approach. The sample comprised active students enrolled in the Bachelor of Nursing program, while students from the nursing profession program were excluded. Based on the Isaac and Michael formula, a proportional stratified random sampling technique was utilized, including 226 respondents. Data were gathered using the Peer Support Questionnaire (PSQ) and the Academic Motivation Scale (AMS)-Short. This data collection targeted students from the Faculty of Nursing at USK, Indonesia, in November 2023. The Spearman Rank statistical method was applied for data analysis. RESULTS: The findings indicated that peer support among students was rated as high (62.8%) while learning motivation was similarly assessed as high (54.4%). The statistical analysis revealed a significant correlation between peer support and learning motivation among nursing students at USK, with a p-value of 0.003. CONCLUSION: The findings reveal a substantial correlation between peer support and students' learning motivation at the Faculty of Nursing, USK. This research is anticipated to provide valuable insights for educational institutions in formulating policies and implementing educational practices to enhance peer support and student motivation, such as forming study groups or peer-to-peer mentoring initiatives. Furthermore, the study may be a reference for future research endeavors that apply nursing theories to reinforce both variables.