The mediating effect of self-compassion and supportive communication between critical thinking and emotional intelligence in Chinese male nursing students.
BACKGROUND Currently, the emotional intelligence of male nursing students in China should be given high priority. Exploring the level of emotional intelligence among male nursing students and its underlying mechanisms is a crucial research topic. This study aims to investigate the mediating effect between critical thinking and emotional intelligence, with a focus on the mediating role of self-compassion and supportive communication, to provide evidence for developing strategies to enhance the emotional intelligence of male nursing students. METHODS This study adopted a cross-sectional design. From June to November 2021, a convenience sampling method was used to survey 227 male undergraduate nursing students from four universities in China. Data collection tools included a general information questionnaire, emotional intelligence scale, critical thinking scale, self-compassion scale, and supportive communication scale. Model construction and mediation path testing were performed using AMOS 23.0, while data analysis was conducted with IBM SPSS 25.0 software. RESULTS The average emotional intelligence score of male nursing students in China was 80.123 ± 16.781.The mediation model demonstrated excellent fit (X²/df = 1.406, GFI = 0.994, NFI = 0.977, IFI = 0.993, CFI = 0.993, RMSEA = 0.042). The mediation effect model revealed that critical thinking indirectly influences emotional intelligence through supportive communication and self-compassion. CONCLUSION The emotional intelligence level of male nursing students in China is in the moderately low range. The functional pathways between emotional intelligence and critical thinking indicate that supportive communication and self-compassion play significant roles in enhancing the emotional intelligence of male nursing students. The research findings provide valuable insights for nursing educators, suggesting that during the cultivation of male nursing students, emphasis should be placed on fostering critical thinking while simultaneously strengthening their abilities in self-compassion and supportive communication. This not only helps improve their emotional intelligence but may also have long-term impacts on their professional growth and personal well-being.