The relationship between difficulties in emotion regulation and solution-focused thinking in nursing students.

ABSTRACT

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between emotion regulation difficulty and solution-focused thinking in nursing students. BACKGROUND: It is essential for nursing students to possess solution-focused thinking and emotion regulation skills to cope effectively with stressors arising from their developmental processes, the nature of education and the profession. This is crucial for enhancing the quality of nursing care. DESIGN: The study design was cross-sectional descriptive and correlational design. METHODS: The convenience sample of the study consisted of 416 nursing students. The research was conducted between January 20 and February 15, 2024. Data were collected in Türkiye with the difficulties in emotion regulation scale-brief form and the solution focused inventory. Data were analyzed using multivariate linear regression analysis. RESULTS: An increase of 1 unit in the level of emotion regulation difficulty was associated with a decrease of 0.236 units in participant resource activation and 0.524 units in problem disengagement (p<.001). An increase of 1 unit in the level of emotion regulation difficulty was also associated with an increase of 0.876 units in participant goal orientation (p<.001). Grade point average, grade and age were identified as factors influencing the sub-dimensions of solution-focused thinking (p<.05). CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that emotion regulation difficulty is an important predictor of solution-focused thinking in nursing students. Therefore, students' emotion regulation difficulties and solution-focused thinking should be evaluated by academic nurses from the beginning of students' enrollment. Also, it is recommended that intervention programs focusing on developing emotion regulation and solution-focused thinking skills for nursing students should be included and implemented in the nursing curriculum.