Aim: To examine the association between positive mental well-being and professional identity in nursing students. The mediating effects of resilience and nurse-patient relationship were explored.
Background: Professional identity of nursing students can influence their pursuit of a nursing career. Negative mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, and high stress, are known risk factors for professional identity. Few studies have examined the association of professional identity with positive mental well-being and underlying mechanisms.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of Chinese nursing students on clinical placement. The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, Professional Identity Scale, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Nurse-Patient Relationship Scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire were used, and demographic and study-related characteristics were measured. Multivariable linear regression and mediation analyses analyzed the associations. We followed the STROBE reporting guidelines.
Results: Of 208 participants, the total scores of positive mental well-being and professional identity were at a moderate level. Positive mental well-being was associated with professional identity after adjusting for confounders including the main reason for choosing nursing and negative mental health. Resilience was a full mediator of the association between positive mental well-being and professional identity, whereas nurse-patient relationship was a partial mediator.
Discussion and conclusion: Positive mental well-being was associated with professional identity in Chinese nursing students on clinical placement, mediated through resilience and nurse-patient relationship. Positive mental well-being can be a facilitator for the professional identity of nursing students, and resilience and nurse-patient relationship could be potential mechanisms for nurse professional development.
Implications for nursing and/or health policy: Nurse researchers, educators, and policymakers are informed to increase the awareness of positive mental well-being and develop interventions targeting resilience and nurse-patient relationship for building a stable and satisfied nursing team.
Keywords: mediation analysis; mental health; nurse–patient relationship; nursing students; professional identity; resilience.
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