The effect of emotion regulation on empathic ability in Chinese nursing students: The parallel mediating role of emotional intelligence and self-consistency congruence

Abstract

AimThis study aims to explore the influence of emotion regulation on empathic ability among undergraduate nursing students, as well as the mediating role of emotional intelligence and self-consistency congruence. DesignA cross-sectional study was employed to examine the relationship between the emotion regulation and empathic ability in Chinese nursing students. MethodsA total of 761 undergraduate nursing students were surveyed using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (Chinese version), the Gross Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, Wang and Law's Emotional Intelligence Scale and the Self-Harmony Scale. ResultsThere was a significant positive correlation between emotion regulation, empathic ability and self-harmony. Significant positive correlations were also found between emotion regulation, empathic ability and emotional intelligence. Mediation analysis revealed that self-harmony and emotional intelligence partially mediated the predictive relationship between emotion regulation and empathic ability, with self-harmony showing a more significant mediating effect. ConclusionThe findings suggest that emotion regulation among undergraduate nursing students indirectly influences their empathic ability through parallel mediating effects of self-harmony and emotional intelligence.