Investigating the Predictive Value of Self-Compassion and Emotional Intelligence for Moral Sensitivity among Nursing Students at Birjand University of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Moral sensitivity, as a fundamental component of nursing ethics, should be emphasized from the very beginning of nursing education. It is hypothesized that individual characteristics such as self-compassion and emotional intelligence are associated with moral sensitivity. This descriptive-correlational study aimed to examine the predictive value of self-compassion and emotional intelligence for moral sensitivity among nursing students at Birjand University of Medical Sciences. The study population consisted of 263 nursing students who were selected using the census sampling method. Data were collected using the standardized Self-Compassion Scale developed by Raes, the Bradberry and Greaves Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire, and the Lützén Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS version 19. The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between moral sensitivity and emotional intelligence (r=0.37, p<0.01). However, no significant relationship was found between moral sensitivity and self-compassion (r=0.44, p>0.05). Stepwise multiple regression analysis further indicated that emotional intelligence, as a predictor variable, explained 13% of the variance in moral sensitivity (p < 0.001), while self-compassion did not make a significant contribution to the prediction of moral sensitivity (p > 0.05). The most important finding of this study was that emotional intelligence can serve as a predictor of moral sensitivity among nursing students. Therefore, it is recommended that emotional intelligence training be incorporated into the nursing curriculum and that effective educational strategies be further investigated