Evaluation of a Psychoeducation Program Given to International Nursing Students for Healthy Lifestyle and Life Satisfaction

Abstract

Objective: This research was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a psychoeducation program given to international nursing studentsreceiving education in the nursing department of a public university to improve their healthy lifestyle behaviors and life satisfaction.Methods: The research was designed based on the single-group pretest-posttest model. The research sample consisted of 68 internationalstudents enrolled in the university’s nursing department in the 2016-2017 academic year. Data were collected using the introduction form,Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale, and Life Satisfaction Scale. Pre-education and post-education scores were compared using the dependentt-test.Results: The total Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale score and subscale scores significantly increased after the program (p≤0.001). The scoreobtained from the Life Satisfaction Scale was 20.1±4.6 before the program and 25.9±3.9 after the program, and this increase was statisticallysignificant (p≤0.001).Conclusion: The psychoeducation program given to international students effectively ensures that students gain healthy lifestyle behaviors,positively affecting life satisfaction.