Factors Related to Academic Success among Nursing Students: A Descriptive Correlational Research Study

The purpose of this correlational study was to describe the relationships among emotional intelligence, psychological empowerment, resilience, spiritual well-being, and academic success in undergraduate and graduate nursing students in a private Catholic university.

A total of 124 undergraduate and graduate nursing students completed the survey. The survey comprised the 14-item Resilience Scale, Spreitzer Psychological Empowerment Scale, Spiritual Well-Being Scale, and the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test.

The sample mean age was 30 years old and 120 were female (97%). The average RS-14 score was 83.7, which is a moderately high score. In the undergraduate group, the relationship between resilience and academic success was weak but statistically significant (r=.243, p=.007).  In the graduate group, however, resilience and academic success were strongly correlated (r=.467, p=.001).

The authors suggest that individuals with high resilience show better academic performance and success. They recommend that “…faculty could consider fostering situations that provide the student with a sense of competence, with the opportunity to feel successful, and with the ability to cope with diverse problems or challenges. Resilience can be reinforced by cultivating particular personality characteristics as well as by increasing contact with the student.”

Reference:

Beauvais AM, Stewart JG, Denisco S, Beauvais JE. (20130. Factors related to academic success among nursing students: A descriptive correlational research study. Nurse Education Today, 34 (6), 918-23.