CORRELATION BETWEEN ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT AND MOTIVATION AMONG NURSING STUDENTS AT SHAHIDA ISLAM NURSING COLLEGE LODHRAN

Abstract

Background: Academic engagement and motivation are important psychological and behavioral determinants of student success, particularly in nursing education, where students must integrate theoretical knowledge with clinical competencies. Higher levels of motivation and engagement contribute to improved learning experiences, academic persistence, and professional development. However, limited evidence exists regarding the relationship between these factors among nursing students in private nursing institutions of South Punjab, Pakistan.

Objective: To determine the relationship between academic engagement and academic motivation among nursing students at Shahida Islam Nursing College Lodhran.

Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional correlational study was conducted among 70 BS Nursing students at Shahida Islam Nursing College Lodhran. Participants were selected using a convenience sampling technique. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire consisting of demographic characteristics, the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale Student Version (UWES-S-9) for academic engagement, and the Academic Motivation Scale (AMS) for academic motivation. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Version 23.0. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, independent sample t-test, and one-way ANOVA were applied. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The majority of participants were female and demonstrated moderate-to-high levels of academic engagement and motivation. The findings revealed a statistically significant positive correlation between academic engagement and academic motivation among nursing students (r = 0.562, p < 0.001), indicating that students with higher motivation tended to show greater academic engagement. No statistically significant differences were observed in engagement and motivation scores according to gender or academic year.

Conclusion: Academic motivation is positively associated with academic engagement among nursing students. Enhancing motivational factors through supportive teaching strategies, mentoring, and student-centered learning approaches may promote greater engagement and improve educational outcomes in nursing programmes.