Factors Influencing Nursing Students' Motivation to Engage in Volunteering Activities in Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31674/mjn.2025.v17i01.019Abstract
Background: Nursing students, equipped with specialised knowledge and skills, have historically played a pivotal role in disaster and outbreak response efforts through their volunteer contributions to the healthcare system. Objectives: This study sought to elucidate the factors influencing nursing students' motivation and preparedness for volunteer engagement in Indonesia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the East Java region. A total of 76 students, meeting specific criteria such as being nursing students and having volunteered, were invited to complete an online survey via Google Forms. A questionnaire was used as an instrument for data collection, and data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis. Results: The results showed that academic level (p = 0.043), family income (p = 0.007), and motivation to volunteer (p = 0.025) were significantly related to students' decisions to participate as volunteers. While ethical considerations and professional responsibility (G = 0.96, p = 0.381) were the primary reasons for students' willingness to volunteer, concerns about health and safety (G = 0.607, p = 0.015) were the most significant barriers. Despite high motivation among students, certain factors influenced their final decision to volunteer. Conclusion: The study reveals that nursing students in Indonesia are motivated to volunteer in disaster response but are hindered by health and safety concerns.
Keywords:
Motivation, Nursing Students, Outbreak, VolunteerDownloads
References
Abdul Aziz, A. A. H., Abdul-Mumin, K. H., & Abdul Rahman, H. (2021). Willingness of university nursing students to volunteer during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brunei Darussalam. Belitung Nursing Journal, 7(4), 285–293. https://doi.org/10.33546/bnj.1518
Adejumo, P. O., Moronkola, O. A., Okanlawon, A. F., Tijani, A. W., Okoronkwo, I. L., Olubiyi, S. K., ... & Ohaeri, B. M. (2021). Knowledge, attitude and willingness of Nigerian nursing students to serve as volunteers in covid-19 pandemic. International Journal of Nursing and Midwifery, 13(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.5897/IJNM2020.0448
Asgharian, F., Vizeshfar, F., & Keshtkaran, Z. (2025). Active aging education: An effective tool for enhancing knowledge and attitudes of health volunteers: A clinical trial study. BMC Geriatrics, 25(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-05729-8
Chawłowska, E., Staszewski, R., Lipiak, A., Giernaś, B., Karasiewicz, M., Bazan, D., Nowosadko, M., Cofta, M., & Wysocki, J. (2021). Student volunteering as a solution for undergraduate health professions education: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic. Frontiers in Public Health, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.633888
Chen, L., Zhang, J., Zhu, Y., Shan, J., & Zeng, L. (2023). Exploration and practice of humanistic education for medical students based on volunteerism. Medical Education Online, 28(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/10872981.2023.2182691
Domaradzki, J., & Walkowiak, D. (2021). Does religion influence the motivations of future healthcare professionals to volunteer during the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland? An Exploratory Study. Journal of Religion and Health, 60(3), 1507–1520. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-021-01231-8
Fadli, F., Safruddin, S., Sastria Ahmad, A., Sumbara, S., & Baharuddin, R. (2020). Faktor yang mempengaruhi kecemasan pada tenaga kesehatan dalam upaya pencegahan COVID-19. (Factors influencing anxiety in health workers in efforts to prevent Covid-19). Jurnal Pendidikan Keperawatan Indonesia, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.17509/jpki.v6i1.24546
Heyerdahl, L. W., Vray, M., Leger, V., Le Fouler, L., Antouly, J., Troit, V., & Giles-Vernick, T. (2021). Evaluating the motivation of red cross health volunteers in the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed-methods study protocol. BMJ Open, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042579
Huda, N. (2020). Caring in Cancer Patient during Covid-19 Pandemic: A literature review. Jurnal Pendidikan Keperawatan Indonesia, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.17509/jpki.v6i1.24635
Karki, P., Budhathoki, L., Khadka, M., Maharjan, S., Dhakal, S., Pokharel, S., Poudel, A., Rokaya, P., Raut, U., & Rayamajhi, S. (2021). Willingness of Nepalese medical and nursing students to volunteer during COVID-19 pandemic: A single-centered cross-sectional study. Annals of Medicine and Surgery (2012), 72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2021.103056
Lazarus, G., Findyartini, A., Putera, A. M., Gamalliel, N., Nugraha, D., Adli, I., Phowira, J., Azzahra, L., Ariffandi, B., & Widyahening, I. S. (2021). Willingness to volunteer and readiness to practice of undergraduate medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey in Indonesia. BMC Medical Education, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-021-02576-0
Li, Q., Guan, X., Wu, P., Wang, X., Zhou, L., Tong, Y., Ren, R., Leung, K. S. M., Lau, E. H. Y., Wong, J. Y., Xing, X., Xiang, N., Wu, Y., Li, C., Chen, Q., Li, D., Liu, T., Zhao, J., Liu, M., Tu, W., … Feng, Z. (2020). Early Transmission Dynamics in Wuhan, China, of Novel Coronavirus-Infected Pneumonia. The New England Journal of Medicine, 382(13), 1199–1207. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2001316
Miao, Q., Schwarz, S., & Schwarz, G. (2021). Responding to COVID-19: Community volunteerism and coproduction in China. World Development, 137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105128
Mo, T., Layous, K., Zhou, X., & Sedikides, C. (2022). Distressed but happy: Health workers and volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Culture and Brain, 10(1), 27–42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40167-021-00100-1
Mouloudj, K., & Bouarar, A. C. (2023). Investigating predictors of medical students' intentions to engagement in volunteering during the health crisis. African Journal of Economic and Management Studies, 14(2), 205-222. https://doi.org/10.1108/AJEMS-08-2022-0315
Müller, L., Heymanns, M., Harder, L., Winter, J., Gehring, S., Düber, C., ... & Kloeckner, R. (2020). Medical students’ commitment during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: Preparedness, motivation, and impact on students’ skills. Research Square. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-37069/v1
Nissen, K. B., Laursen, S. H., Udsen, F. W., & Haslund-Thomsen, H. (2023). Undergraduate students' experiences of participating in a Danish respite programme for young carers-A mixed methods study. The International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 38(2), 507–526. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpm.3602
Pring, C., & Roco, I. (2012). The volunteer phenomenon of nurses in the Philippines. Asian Journal of Health, 2(1), 95-110. Retrieved from: https://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://scispace.com/pdf/the-volunteer-phenomenon-of-nurses-in-the-philippines-4clq01e4tk.pdf. Accessed on 5th May, 2023.
Putri, S. T., & Andriyani, S. (2018). Needs and problems of Posbindu program: Community health volunteers’ perspective. In IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 288(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/288/1/012139
Roshanravan, M., Moslehi, S., & Seyedin, H. (2025). Empowerment of volunteer nursing service providers during disasters: A qualitative study. BMC Emergency Medicine, 25(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-024-01161-0
Roy, S., & Ayalon, L. (2021). “Goodness and kindness”: Long-distance caregiving through volunteers during the COVID-19 lockdown in India. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 76(7). https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbaa187
Seah, B., Ho, B., Liaw, S. Y., Ang, E. N. K., & Lau, S. T. (2021). To Volunteer or Not? Perspectives towards pre-registered nursing students volunteering frontline during COVID-19 pandemic to ease healthcare workforce: A qualitative study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18126668
Setiawan, H. W., Pratiwi, I. N., Nimah, L., Pawanis, Z., Bakhtiar, A., Fauzinigtyas, R., & Ramoo, V. (2021). Challenges for healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients in Indonesia: A qualitative study. INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 58. https://doi.org/10.1177/00469580211060291
Tejativaddhana, P., Suriyawongpaisal, W., Kasemsup, V., & Suksaroj, T. (2020). The roles of village health volunteers: COVID-19 prevention and control in Thailand. Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management, 15(3), 18-22. https://doi.org/10.24083/apjhm.v15i3.477
Tran, V., Pham, D. T., Dao, T. N. P., Pham, K. A. T., Ngo, P. T., & Dewey, R. S. (2022). Willingness of healthcare students in Vietnam to volunteer during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Community Health, 47(1), 108–117. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-021-01030-y
Zhang, J., Peng, C., & Chen, C. (2024). Mental health and academic performance of college students: Knowledge in the field of mental health, self-control, and learning in college. Acta Psychologica, 248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104351
Zhang, K., Peng, Y., Zhang, X., & Li, L. (2021). Psychological burden and experiences following exposure to COVID-19: a qualitative and quantitative study of Chinese medical student volunteers. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18084089
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 The Malaysian Journal of Nursing (MJN)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
