Association of Socio-Emotional Competency and Self-Efficacy: A Cross Sectional Study Among Undergraduate Nursing Students

Abstract

Background: Socio-emotional competence and self-efficacy are essential determinants of nursing students’ personal development, clinical performance, and ability to adapt to professional challenges. Understanding their association can guide educational strategies aimed at improving emotional regulation, confidence, and academic success. Objective: To determine the association between socio-emotional competence and self-efficacy among undergraduate nursing students in Hayatabad, Peshawar. Methods: An analytical cross sectional study was conducted from October 2024 to January 2025 across three nursing institutions: Khyber Medical University Institute of Nursing Sciences, Northwest College of Nursing, and Pak International Nursing College. Using convenient random sampling, 215 students from the 2nd to 8th semesters were included, while 1st semester students were excluded. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire comprising the 25 item socio-emotional Competence Scale (Cronbach α = 0.95) and the 10 item General Self-Efficacy Scale (Cronbach α = 0.88). Scores were categorized as high or low based on the median, and data were analyzed using SPSS version 28 with chi square and Pearson correlation test. Results: The sample included 54.9% males and 45.1% females. The mean socio-emotional competence score was 78.45 (SD = 8.35) and the mean self-efficacy score was 32.49 (SD = 4.14). A significant positive correlation was found between socio-emotional competence and self-efficacy (r = 0.561, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The study concluded that higher socio-emotional competence is significantly associated with higher self-efficacy among nursing students, indicating that emotional and social skills are vital for confidence and effective academic and clinical functioning.  Keywords: Academic Performance, Nursing Education, Self-Efficacy, Socio-Emotional Competence, Undergraduate Nursing Students.