Interpersonal communication, empathy, and stress perceived by nursing students who use social networks

Implications of perceived empathy from spouses during pregnancy for health-related quality of life among pregnant women: a cross-sectional study in Anhui, China

BACKGROUND

Empathy is a critical component of nursing care, impacting both nurses' and patients' outcomes. However, perceived empathy from spouses during pregnancy and its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are unclear. This study aimed to examine pregnant women's perceived empathy from their spouses and assess the relation of perceived empathy on HRQoL.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study, performed in the obstetric clinics or wards of four well-known hospitals in Anhui Province, China, included 349 pregnant women in the second or third trimester; participants were recruited by convenience sampling and enrolled from October to December 2021. A general information questionnaire, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), a purpose-designed empathy questionnaire and the Medical Outcomes Study 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) were used to evaluate the pregnant women's general information, perceptions of empathy and HRQoL. Data were analysed using SPSS 22 at a threshold of P < 0.05. Descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, Student's t test, ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis were used for analysis.

RESULTS

The pregnant women's total empathy, physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores were 41.6 ± 9.0, 41.6 ± 7.6, and 47.7 ± 9.1, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed that the purpose-designed empathy questionnaire items were significantly positively correlated with perspective taking and empathic concern but were not correlated with the personal distress dimension and were only partially correlated with the fantasy dimension. Maternal physical condition during pregnancy, planned pregnancy, and occupational stress were predictors of the PCS score (β = 0.281, P < 0.01; β = 0.132, P = 0.02; β = -0.128, P = 0.02). The behavioural empathy item of our purpose-designed empathy questionnaire and empathic concern were important predictors of the MCS score (β = 0.127, P = 0.02; β = 0.158, P < 0.01), as well as other demographic and obstetric information, explaining 22.0% of the variance in MCS scores totally (F = 12.228, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Pregnant women perceived lower empathy from their spouses and reported lower HRQoL. Perceived empathy, particularly behavioural empathy, may significantly impact pregnant women's MCS scores but has no effect on their PCS scores. Strategies that foster perceived empathy from spouses among pregnant women are essential for facilitating healthy pregnancies and potentially improving maternal and child health.

The effect of the programme based on Roy adaptation model on social media addiction, healthy lifestyle and self-esteem of nursing students

AIM

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the Roy adaptation model-based strengthening program (RAMBSP) applied to nursing students on social media addiction, healthy lifestyle behaviours and self-esteem.

METHODS

One hundred five nursing students studying at a nursing faculty of a university were included in this prospective, two-armed (1:1), randomized controlled study. The study group (n:54) had 12 weeks of RAMBSP online group sessions. No intervention was made to the control group (n:51). The social media addiction level, which was the primary outcome of the study, was evaluated with the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) and healthy lifestyle behaviours and self-esteem, which were secondary outcomes, were evaluated with the Healthy Lifestyle Behaviours Scale II (HLBS-II) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory (REI). Students filled out BSMAS, HLBS-II, and REI online via Google Forms before and after RAMBSP.

FINDINGS

At the end of the programme, there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of BSMAS scores of the students in the study group (p > 0.05); however, the difference was significant in terms of HLBS-II and REI scores (p < 0.05). It was determined that the empowerment programme increased students' awareness of social media addiction.

CONCLUSION

It is recommended to implement programmes that will increase students' awareness of social media addiction and its effects and to conduct new research that will cover large and different sample groups.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

It was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov in March 2021 (NCT04820517).

Nursing students' nomophobia, social media use, attention, motivation, and academic performance: A structural equation modeling approach

AIM

To investigate the interrelationships of nomophobia, social media use, attention, motivation, and academic performance among nursing students.

BACKGROUND

There is a preponderance of studies about nursing students' nomophobia, social media use, and academic performance. However, the mediating role of motivation and attention between nomophobia and academic performance remains a blind spot in nursing literature.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional design and structural equation modeling (SEM) approach.

METHOD

Students from five nursing institutions in the Philippines were recruited via convenience sampling (n = 835). We used STROBE guidelines in reporting this study. Three self-report instruments (Motivational Strategies for Learning Questionnaire [MSLQ], Media and Technology Usage and Attitude Scale [MTUAS], and Nomophobia Questionnaire [NMP-Q]) were used to collect data. SEM, mediation analyses, and path analyses were used for data analysis.

RESULTS

The emerging model afforded acceptable model fit indices. Nursing students' nomophobia positively influenced social media use whereas negatively impacting motivation and attention. Social media use, motivation, and attention directly affect academic performance. Path analyses depicted that motivation and attention mediated the indirect effect of nomophobia on academic performance. Motivation mediated the indirect impact of nomophobia on attention. Finally, attention mediated the indirect effect of motivation on academic performance.

CONCLUSION

Nursing institutions and educators can use the proposed model in developing guidelines for evaluating nomophobia and regulating social media use in the academic and clinical context. These initiatives could support nursing students' transition from school to practice while assisting them in maintaining their academic performance.

Impact of increased digital use and internet gaming on nursing students' empathy: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 restrictions and quarantines had led to increased dependence and usage of digital devices for various human activities and internet gaming to the extent of risking vulnerable individuals to develop addiction towards it. Little is known on such risks among populations of nursing students and its impact on their empathy skills or trait.

OBJECTIVE

Determining the impact of digital use and internet gaming on empathy of nursing students undergoing remote learning during closure of learning institutions nationwide.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional online survey was conducted from October to December 2020.

SETTINGS

Two established public institutions located in Malaysia.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 345 nursing students pursuing diploma and bachelor nursing programs.

METHODS

Toronto Empathy Questionnaire (TEQ), Digital Addiction Scale (DAS) and Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short form (IGDS9-SF) were self-administered via Google Form™. Following principal component analysis of TEQ using IBM-SPSS™ (V-27), path analyses was performed using SmartPLS™ (V-3).

RESULTS

Despite the increased time spent on digital devices (∆ 2.8 h/day) and internet gaming (∆ 1 h/week) before and during the pandemic, the proportion of high digital users (1.4 %) and gamers (20.9 %) were low; and sizable ≈75 % had higher-than-normal empathy. Digital-related emotions and overuse of them were associated with lower empathy (β = -0.111, -0.192; p values < 0.05) and higher callousness (β = 0.181, 0.131; p values < 0.05); internet gaming addiction predicted callousness (β = 0.265, p < 0.001) but digital dependence correlated with higher empathy (β = 0.172, p = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

Digital and internet gaming addiction potentially impact empathy. The negative impact of digital dependence can be attenuated by "digital empathy" - an emerging phenomenon becoming increasingly vital in digital health and communication.