PROFESSIONAL BELONGING AMONG MIDWIFERY STUDENTS FROM AN INTERCULTURAL PERSPECTIV

https://doi.org/10.71284/tjmhs.20263210

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the levels of professional belonging among midwifery students
from an intercultural perspective and to reveal the relationship between belonging and academic and
cultural factors. A total of 188 students studying at a university in Turkey participated in this descriptive study. A socio-demographic information form and the " Midwifery Belonging Scale " were used as data collection tools. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS program. The mean age of the participants was 21.39±1.33 (min:19; max:25), and 13.3% were international students. Of the students, 26.1% were in their second year, 35.6% in their third year, and 38.3% in their fourth year of study. The participants'mean academic grade point average was 2.83±4.60; 81.4% evaluated their academic success as moderate, and 27.7% stated that they worked in the healthcare field.
The mean total score on the Midwifery Belonging Scale was 89.42±10.80. The majority of students stated that they chose the department voluntarily (79.8%), felt a sense of belonging to their profession (87.2%), were satisfied with the department (91%), and intended to work as midwives after graduation (95.7%). Analyses revealed that variables such as grade level, voluntary choice of the department, sense of belonging, departmental satisfaction, and the desire to pursue the profession post-graduation created significant differences in various dimensions of professional belonging (p<0.05). In contrast, no significant differences were found regarding citizenship status, marital status, income perception, or active employment status. According to the correlation analysis, a low-level significant positive relationship was found between age and emotional belonging and professional development. The findings indicate that professional belonging is shaped more by students' motivations and subjective perceptions of belonging than by socio-demographic characteristics. In conclusion, supporting students' motivations and strengthening their perceptions of belonging are of critical importance in enhancing professional belonging.
Keywords: Midwifery, Midwifery student, Professional belonging