Open Access

Emotional intelligence and perceptions of patient safety competence among nursing students in clinical practice: The moderating role of moral courage

Huan Ma¹, Jinmei Zou^1,*, Ying Zhong²

1 School of Nursing, Sichuan Vocational College of Health and Rehabilitation, Zigong, 643000, China
2 Nursing Department, Zigong First People’s Hospital, Zigong, 643000, China

* Corresponding Author: Jinmei Zou. Email:

Journal of Psychology in Africa 2025, 35(1), 21-27. https://doi.org/10.32604/jpa.2025.065766

Received 28 July 2024; Accepted 27 December 2024; Issue published 30 April 2025

Abstract

This study explored the mediating role of moral courage in the relationship between emotional intelligence and perceptions of patient safety competence among nursing students in clinical practice. The study sample comprised 220 nursing students from a teaching hospital (female = 93.6%; mean age = 20.64 years, SD = 1.78 years). Nursing students completed standardized measures of Emotional Intelligence Scale, the Moral Courage Scale, and the Health Professional Education in Patient Safety Survey. Following hierarchical regression analysis and bootstrap analysis, the results showed that emotional intelligence and moral courage significantly predicted high levels of the perceptions of patient safety competence among nursing students in clinical practice. Moreover, moral courage partially mediated the relationship emotional intelligence and perceptions of patient safety competence. The results indicate measures focused on improving emotional intelligence and moral courage levels among nursing students in clinical practice will be effective at increasing their perceptions of patient safety competence.

---

Keywords

---