Changes of ego identity and psychosocial maturity in nursing students: A longitudinal study

Abstract

BackgroundNursing students who have achieved ego identity are able to develop their careers to become professional nurses. To care for patients in a clinical context, nursing students need to be psychologically and socially mature. Attainment of ego identity and maturity is a key developmental task during students' time at university as they prepare to become professional nurses. ObjectivesThis study was conducted to examine changes of ego identity and psychosocial maturity in nursing students. Design and settingA longitudinal study design was employed between June 2016 and June 2019 at a university in a metropolis in South Korea. ParticipantsThe participants were 102 nursing students who responded to surveys on at least two occasions. Seventy-six nursing students completed questionnaires on four occasions (in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019). MethodsData were collected through self-report questionnaires composed of items assessing ego identity, psychosocial maturity, and demographic characteristics. Participants returned questionnaires every June from 2016 to 2019. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the kappa statistic, repeated-measures analysis of variance, and one-way analysis of variance. ResultsIn terms of ego identity status, 17.1% of nursing students progressed to a more advanced status, 5.3% of them regressed to a less developed status, 57.9% of students had a fluctuating status, and 19.7% of them had a status that remained stable. Overall, psychosocial maturity in nursing students increased over time. Psychosocial maturity was higher among students in the achievement and moratorium statuses than among those in other statuses. ConclusionsThese findings indicate that ego identity status fluctuated during students' time at nursing school, while psychosocial maturity simultaneously improved. Nursing students who explored their options also became psychologically and socially mature.