earticle

영어

Objectives: Reportedly, the main influential factors on students’ adaptation to their college life were social support, stress, adaptation resilience, self-esteem, and satisfaction with their major. This study tried to find the actual influence of these factors on dental hygiene students, and to find an intervention plan for improving their adaptation to college life and preventing their dropout. Methods: An online questionnaire survey had been conducted with 270 dental hygiene students from June 21 to July 2, 2021. The collected data were analyzed with the use of SPSS Program Version 22.0. Results: Firstly, students living together with their family, those satisfied with their major, and those doing a club activity related to their major scored high points in terms of the adaptation to college life. In addition, the adaptation points were high in those whose school entrance motivation was arbitrary, and in those who entered in the dental hygiene department in consideration of their aptitude. Secondly, college life stress was high in those whose entrance motivation was in other persons’ will, those who entered in the department due to their school record and occupation, rather than aptitude, those who were also doing a part-time job, and those whose economic level was low. Thirdly, adaptation resilience, social support, and self-esteem were high in those who were highly satisfied with their major, those who entered in the department in consideration of aptitude, and those whose economic level was high. Fourthly, the biggest influential factor on their adaptation to college life was college life stress, followed by self-esteem, satisfaction with major, and adaptation resilience in order. Conclusion: Given all the results, it is necessary to analyze dental hygiene students’ levels of stress, self-esteem, social support, and adaptation resilience from the beginning of their entrance, and to operate a school life adaptation program in line with school years. If any customized support and training are given to these students to deal with a variety of stress situations resiliently and wisely and achieve their jobs successfully, it is expected to improve their self-esteem and adaptation resilience, and thereby increase their adaptation to college life.