The association of perceived sociability and social intelligence with loneliness in online learning among nursing students

Abstract

BackgroundAs a result of the decrease in socialization levels in computer-supported collaborative learning settings and/or interactions in social environments during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the adverse influence on the social intelligence development of nursing students could trigger loneliness. ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the association of perceived sociability and social intelligence on loneliness in online learning among nursing students in Turkey. DesignDescriptive, correlational and predictive study. Setting and participantsA total of 246 nursing students in the Nursing Department of a state university in the Istanbul province of Turkey were included. MethodsData were collected using the Participant Information Form, Sociability Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale-8 (ULS-8) for the Adolescents, and Tromso Social Intelligence Scale (TSIS) between November 2020 and December 2020. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of loneliness. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. ResultsThe total mean Sociability Scale score was 23.54 ± 7.51 (range: 10–46). The total mean TSIS score was 74.15 ± 9.98 (range: 46–105) and the total mean ULS-8 was 13.91 ± 4.98 (range: 7–27). Perceived sociability in online learning (β = −0.321, p < .001), and social intelligence (β = −0.347, p < .001) were significant negative predictors (R2 = 0.269, p < .001) of loneliness. ConclusionPerceived sociability in online learning and social intelligence was associated with the level of loneliness of this population during online learning.