Factors Associated with Adaptation among First-Year Health Sciences Students Sirindhorn College of Public Health, Chonburi

Abstract

The objective of this cross-sectional quantitative study was to investigate the factors associated with the adaptation of first-year health sciences students at Sirindhorn College of Public Health, Chonburi. The sample consisted of 115 first-year health sciences students selected through systematic random sampling. The study was based on Roy’s Adaptation Model, which classifies stimuli into three types: contextual stimuli, focal stimuli, and residual stimuli. The research instrument was a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, as well as inferential statistics using the chi-square test. The results revealed that 69.6% of the participants had a good overall level of adaptation. The highest level of good adaptation was found in the peer dimension (80.9%), followed by the instructor dimension (64.3%) and the activity dimension (59.1%). In contrast, the dimensions with the highest levels of poor adaptation were the environmental dimension (61.7%) and the academic dimension (43.5%). Regarding correlations, stress as a focal stimulus and emotional quotient as a residual stimulus were significantly associated with adaptation at the 0.05 level. Therefore, educational institutions should promote activities that support the development of stress management skills and enhance emotional quotient. These efforts may help students foster positive adaptation to learning and living in a new environment with creativity and well-being.