Interpersonal competence among nursing students: Influencing factors

This study examined the influential factors of interpersonal competence among nursing students in South Korea. For this study, 168 nursing students at Kyungpook National University in Daegu were initially recruited and they were required to complete the Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire, Self-Awareness Scale, Self-Acceptance Scale, and Interpersonal Reactivity Index. Eighteen students with incomplete survey results were excluded; 168 students were included in the data analysis. The data were analysed using descriptive analysis, the t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and Multiple regression analysis. The results were as follows: self-awareness, self-acceptance, and empathy showed positive correlations with interpersonal competence; age, self-awareness, self-acceptance, and empathy influenced nursing students' interpersonal competence; and these variables explained 34.5% of the variance in interpersonal competence scores. Based on these findings, we suggest the need to develop and implement a nursing education programme that promotes self-awareness, self-acceptance, and empathy to ultimately promote interpersonal competence in nursing students in South Korea.