Background: According to recent statistics from the Korean Ministry of Education, the number of students who have dropped out of college has increased.
Objectives: To assess the relationship between creativity, social support, voice behaviour, and college life adjustment among first-year nursing students and to identify the factors influencing college life adjustment.
Design: This study used a cross-sectional correlational design.
Sample: Non-random convenience sampling.
Participants: Participants were first-year Korean nursing students (n = 153).
Method: Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analysed using a multiple regression analysis.
Results: Adjustment to college life was significantly correlated with creativity (r = 0.26, p < .001), social support (r = 0.37, p < .001), and voice behaviour (r = 0.40, p < .001). A stepwise regression model showed subjective interpersonal degree (β = 0.32, p < .001), satisfaction with major (β = 0.31, p < .001), voice behaviour (β = 0.25, p < .001), and academic confidence (β = 0.15, p = .015) were significant predictors of college life adjustment (R2 = 0.56, p < .001).
Conclusion: To improve the college life adjustment of new students in nursing schools, nursing education programmes should include strategies to enhance interpersonal-relationship levels, satisfaction with nursing major, voice behaviour, and academic confidence.