Alexithymia and negative emotions among nursing students: a moderated mediation model.

Feifei Sun, Fang Wang, Xiaojing Hu, Jiaomei Xue, Shangkun Zheng, Jing Su, Qinghua Lu
Author Information
  1. Feifei Sun: Department of Nursing, Shandong Mental Health Center, Shandong University, 49 Wenhua East Road, 250014, Jinan, Shandong, China. ORCID
  2. Fang Wang: Xianning Vocational Technical College, 437100, Xianning, Hubei, China.
  3. Xiaojing Hu: Department of Nursing, Shandong Mental Health Center, Shandong University, 49 Wenhua East Road, 250014, Jinan, Shandong, China.
  4. Jiaomei Xue: Society and Law School, Shandong Women's University, Changqing University Science and Technology Park, No. 2399, University Road, 25030, Jinan, Shandong, China.
  5. Shangkun Zheng: Human Resources Department, Shandong Mental Health Center, Shandong University, 49 Wenhua East Road, 250014, Jinan, Shandong, China.
  6. Jing Su: Editorial Board, Journal of Shandong First Medical University, No. 6699 Qingdao Road, Huaiyin District, 250000, Jinan, China.
  7. Qinghua Lu: Department of Infection Management, Shandong Mental Health Center, Shandong University, 49 Wenhua East Road, 250014, Jinan, Shandong, China. sdsunfei@126.com.

Abstract

Nursing students, who comprise a high percentage of China's college students, experience many psychological problems; however, few studies explored the mechanisms underlying these problems. This cross-sectional study explored the relationships and mechanisms of depression, Anxiety, stress, and narrative disorders in senior nursing students. Questionnaires were administered to 380 senior nursing students in Hubei Province using the Sociodemographic Questionnaire, Toronto Alexithymia-20 Scale, Perceived Social Support Scale, 10-Item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale. After controlling for sociodemographic variables, Hayes' PROCESS macros were used to test how psychological resilience moderates the relationships among narrative disorders, negative affect, and perceived social support. Bootstrap confidence intervals tested for indirect effects. Correlation analyses revealed that alexithymia was correlated significantly positively with depression-Anxiety-stress (r = 0.57, 0.56, and 0.58, resp.) and significantly negatively with perceived social support (r = 0-0.46). Psychological resilience was correlated significantly negatively with alexithymia (r=-0.39) and depression-Anxiety-stress (r=-0.31, -0.30, and-0.32, resp.) but significantly positively with perceived social support(r = 0.50). Perceived social support was correlated significantly negatively with depression-Anxiety-stress (r=-0.33, -0.34, and - 0.42 resp.). Stress was correlated significantly positively with Anxiety and depression (r = 0.81 and 0.77, resp.). Psychological resilience was a partial mediator between depression and Dysphoria (β=-0.08, p < 0.05). Dysphoria directly predicted Anxiety (β = 0.31) and stress (β = 0.37); moreover,alexithymia predicted depression not only directly but also through the mediating effect of psychological resilience. Therefore, educators and clinical administrators must promote and recognise negative emotions among nursing students to help ensure the nursing workforce's stability.

Keywords

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Grants

  1. SDYWZGKCJH2023084/Shandong Province Medical Staff Science and Technology Innovation Program Projects

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