The Relationships among Nursing Students’ Family Interaction, Personality and Psychological Well- being

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among nursing students’ family interaction, personality, and their psychological well-being.

Methods: This was a descriptive correlational research design. A convenience sample of 74 nursing students from a mid-west state University was recruited in this study, including 12 male (16.2%) and 62 female (83.8%). The mean age was 24.36 (SD = 7.30). Data was collected using structured questionnaires consisting of Scales regarding Family Interaction, Personality, and Psychological Wellbeing. Descriptive statistics (mean, SD, range, frequency, and percent), Pearson-Product Moment Correlation and Stepwise Multiple Regression analyses were used to describe the study sample and perform deeper analyses. SPSS version 23 was used to do the data analysis.

Results: There was a statistically significant positive relationship between positive family interaction and positive personality. When the score of positive family interaction increased, the score of positive personality increased. There was a statistically significant reverse relationship between negative family interaction and positive personality. When the score of negative family interaction

increased, the score of positive personality decreased. Especially, the inconsistent discipline subscale had statistically significant negative relationships with Personality, Emotional Stability, and Intellect. There was a statistically significant positive relationship between positive family interaction and psychological well-being. When the score of positive family interaction increased, the score of psychological well-being increased. Especially the subscales of Positive Family Interaction including Inductive Reasoning subscale and Communication subscale had statistically significant positive relationships with Psychological Well-being, Environmental mastery, Positive Relations with Others, and Self- Acceptance subscales. There was no significant relationship between negative family interaction and Psychological well-being. There was a statistically significant positive relationship between positive personality and psychological well-being. When the score of positive personality increased, the score of psychological well-being increased. All of the subscales of Personality also had statistically significant positive relationships with subscales of Psychological Well-being. The Stepwise Multiple Regression model variables accounted for 6.2% of the Personality variance in the first model and 12% for the second model. In the first model, Positive Family Interaction was the significant predictor of nursing students’ personality (ß= 0.249, p < 0.05). When the score of positive family interaction increased, the score of nursing students’ positive personality increased. In the second model, Negative Family Interaction was the significant predictor of nursing students’ personality (ß = -0.250, p < 0.05). When the score of negative family interaction increased, the score of nursing students’ positive personality decreased. The Stepwise Multiple Regression model variables accounted for 7% of the Psychological Well-being variance in the model. In the model, Positive Family Interaction was the significant predictor of nursing students’ Psychological Well-being (ß = 0.265, p < 0.05). When the score of positive family interaction increased, the score of nursing students’ psychological well-being increased. The Stepwise Multiple

Regression model variables accounted for 36.1% of the Psychological Well-being variance in the model. In the model, Positive Personality was the significant predictor of nursing students’ Psychological Well-being (ß = 0.601, p < 0.001). When the score of positive personality increased, the score of nursing students’ psychological well-being increased.

Conclusions: Family interaction shapes a person’s personality. Positive personality increases people’s psychological well-being. In this study, family interaction, positive personality, and psychological well-being had statistically significant relationships.