RELATIONSHIP OF ACADEMIC MOTIVATION AND INTERPERSONAL DEPENDENCY

AMONG NURSING STUDENTS IN A STATE UNIVERSITY

Background of the Study

In the latest survey of the National Statistics Office

published in The Philippine Star last December 2013, the
Philippine Literacy Rate as of 2010 is 97.5%, and the Western
Visayas with 97.9%.
In addition, the 2010 Census of Population and Housing
states that the household population aged five and above bracket
was recorded at 81.9 million, comprising 88.9% of the total
household population in the country. From this total household
population, 10.1% were academic degree holders, and 2.7% were
post secondary graduates. Among those with college/academic
degrees, females outnumbered males, 56.1% to 43.9%. Similarly,
there were more females (58.0%) than males (42.0%) among those
with post baccalaureate courses.
Furthermore according to them, the educational attainment of
the population in the country had improved since year 2000. The
proportions of graduates of both secondary and tertiary (college)
levels had increased from 4.3% in 2000 to 10.1% in 2010.
The Filipinos give great importance to education and views
it as an investment. Parents make sacrifices in order to send

their children to school, to finish college, get a diploma and

land a job. But it is not enough that the child is literate or
had learned to read and write. It is essential that the child is
educated, have a bachelors degree and graduated college.
Individuals are sent by the parents to college whether if
the school is near or far, in the process of doing so, the
individual will be dependent to their parents or guardians.
Interpersonal dependency is shown by the individual to the
parents or guardian, the person depends on their support through
money, basic needs, emotional support, help on school work, and
many others so that the individual can survive and continue to go
to school. The central characteristics of interpersonal
dependency are individuals who are always in search of a magic
helper. They show a particular kind of loyalty, at the bottom of
which is gratitude for the hand that feeds them and the fear of
ever losing it. (Fromm, 1947)
In school, it is not enough that the individual will just be
physically present in classes. There are many reasons that an
individual chooses to go through college and earn that
prestigious degree; it may be because of poverty, be it familywilled, ambition, success or the knowledge to gain. Nevertheless,
these factors motivate him to reach his goals of graduating
college.

The individual has to have a motivation in order to do

well and do good in school. Thus motivation is the process

whereby goal directed activity is instigated and sustained.

(Akomolaf, 2013)
Highly motivated individuals persist and find ways in order
to achieve their goals; including finding a school that could
help them to accomplish it. West Visayas State University College
of Nursing has produced motivated individuals as evidenced by
topnotchers in several board examinations. Furthermore, the
school has been recognized as a top nursing school both local and
national. They ranked number 1 in the May 2014 Nurse Licensure
Examination (NLE), acquiring a passing percentage of 100% with
139 examinees as published in the Professional Regulation
Commission official website. Moreover, the school was presented a
Plaque of Recognition by the Board of Nursing Chairwoman
Carmencita M. Abaquin during a program held last August. The
school had been in the top 10 for six consecutive years garnering
100% passing percentage last July 2011, June 2013; 99.36% during
the July 2010 and June 2012 NLE and 99% last June 2009.
On another hand, Nursing is one of the in demand courses and
viewed as a means of working abroad by many.

The cost of sending

a child to school is high; in college aside from the tuition and

miscellaneous fees, there are other expenses like accommodation,
fare, and many others. Nursing being an in demand courses,
expenses will be higher because of additional pay for duties,

equipments and uniforms. Thus nursing students may be highly

dependent on their parents for support. Hence, this study

Statement of the Problem and Hypothese

This study aims to determine the academic motivation and

interpersonal dependency among Nursing students in a State
University.
Specifically, this study sought to answer the following:
1. What is the level of academic motivation among nursing
students in a state university when taken as a whole or
grouped according to sex and year level?
2. What is the level of interpersonal dependency among nursing
students in a state university when taken as a whole or
grouped according to sex and year level?
3. Is there a significant difference in the academic motivation
of nursing students when grouped according to sex and year
level?
4. Is there a significant difference in the level of
interpersonal dependency of nursing students when grouped
according to sex and year level?
5. Is there a significant relationship between academic
motivation and interpersonal dependency among nursing
students?
In view of the above-mentioned questions, the following
hypotheses were advanced:

1. There is no significant difference in the academic

motivation of nursing students when grouped according to sex
and year level.
2. There is no significant difference in the level of
interpersonal dependency of nursing students when grouped
according to sex and year level.
3. There no significant relationship between academic
motivation and interpersonal dependency among nursing
students.

Theoretical Framework

Research Paradigm

Independent Variables
Individual Factors:

Sex
Year Level

Dependent Variables
Academic Motivation
Interpersonal
Dependency

Figure 1: Academic Motivation and Interpersonal Dependency as

influenced by certain individual factors.

Significance of the study:

The results of the study may be beneficial to the following:

Nursing Students. The Nursing Students upon knowing their
academic motivation will be reminded of their goal-directed plan
and their reasons for taking up college and enrolling in Nursing.
In addition, their level of interpersonal dependency will show
them how greatly they depended on their parents, guardians and
significant others not only for financial support but also for
emotional ones. This will help them remain grounded even though
they strive to reach for their dreams.
Parents and Significant Others of the Student. The parents
and significant others of the participants will know what
motivates the individual. Knowing these, they can help the
students remain motivated in their studies and to continue with
their chosen course towards their goals, through extrinsic
motivation by use of rewards and reinforcements.

Furthermore by

knowing the relationship of interpersonal dependency and academic

motivation, they can improve or maintain their support towards

them so that students remain inspired in their academic

endeavors.
College of Nursing Dean, Year Level Coordinators and
Clinical Instructors. The College of Nursing clinical instructors
and educators spearheaded by the dean can help their students
remain motivated through various programs and lectures that would
promote intrinsic motivation towards knowledge, and
accomplishments. Through this they can achieve their mission to
produce life-long learners.
Other College Students. College students can perceive the
importance of their dependence to their parents in order to
motivate them to perform better in their academe. Furthermore
this will remind them of what motivated them to pursue college,
of their dependence in others in order to reach their goals.
Future Researcher. Future researchers may gain valuable
insights from the results of this study and may use this as a
reference and arouse their interest in the pursuit of conducting
future related studies.

Definition of Terms

For a better understanding of this study, the following

terms were defined conceptually and operationally:

Relationship a connection between two or more factors that

we can measure or systematically vary (IS#1).
In this study, relationship is referred to as the

link

between academic motivation and interpersonal dependency.

Academic motivation - Academic motivation is a students
desire

(as

reflected

interest)

regarding

competence

is

in

approach,

academic

judged

against

persistence,

subjects
a

when

standard

of

and
the

level

of

students

performance

or

excellence. (IS#2)
In this study, Academic motivation refers to a concept that
is measured by Vallerands academic motivation scale.
Interpersonal dependency - Interpersonal dependency is a
personality construct characterized by an intense fear of losing
interpersonal support. (Orr, 2007)
In this study, Interpersonal dependency refers to a concept
that

is

measured

by

Hirschfelds

Interpersonal

Dependency

Inventory.
Nursing

students

student

in

program

leading

to

certification in a form of nursing; usually applied to students

in an RN or practical nurse program. (IS #3)
In this study, Nursing students is referred to as Students
enrolled in the nursing curriculum A.Y. 2014-2015 at West Visayas
State University, They will be the participants of this study.

State University - A public institution of higher education

which is a body politic and corporate.
In this study, State University is referred to as

West

Visayas State University, a state university in Iloilo city will

be the venue of this study.

Scope and Delimitations of the Study

This study aims to determine the level of academic

motivation and interpersonal dependency of Nursing Students in
West Visayas State University. The data will be limited to the
answers of first year to fourth year nursing students enrolled in
the said school for Academic Year 2014-2015.
The survey-correlational method of research will be utilized
in this study and the data needed for this investigation will be
gathered through the use of Vallerands Academic Motivation Scale
and Hirschfelds Interpersonal Dependency Inventory for academic
motivation and interpersonal dependency, respectively.
All statistical computations will be computer-processed
using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS)
software, and will be set at .05 alpha.

References:

Akomolaf, M. j. et. al (2013). The Role of Academic SelfEfficacy, Academic Motivation and Academic Self-Concept in
Predicting Secondary School Students Academic Performance.
Journal of Educational and Social Research.3,2, p. 336
Doi:10.5901/jesr.2013.v3n2p335)
Fromm, E. (1947). Man for Himself. New York: Rinehart
Orr, E. S. (2007). Emotional Awareness and Interpersonal
Dependency. Canada: University of Windsor Publshing.

Internet sources:
http://www.philstar.com/business/2013/12/31/1273515/phl-literacyrate-improves-97.5-nso, retrieved August 5, 2014
http://www.census.gov.ph/content/educational-attainmenthousehold-population-results-2010-census, retrieved August 5,
2014
http://pinoy.md/ipb/index.php?showtopic=8099, retrieved August 5,
2014
http://www.prc.gov.ph/uploaded/documents/NURS0514ft.pdf,
retrieved August 14, 2014
http://www.iloilotoday.com/2014/08/prc-board-of-nursingrecognizes-wvsu.html, retrieved August 14, 2014
http://www.mb.com.ph/phs-top-nursing-school-still-in-iloilo/,
retrieved August 14, 2014

http://psychology.about.com/od/researchmethods/ss/expdesintro_4.h
tm
http://www.iapsych.com/acmcewok/Academicmotivation.html
http://www.medilexicon.com/medicaldictionary.php?t=61891