Psychological Factors Influencing Self-directed Learning Ability of 3rd Year Nursing Students at a University

Abstract

This descriptive research study aims to identify the influencing factors of self-directed learning ability in 3rd year nursing students enrolled in a nursing college. The subjects were 133 3rd year students from one nursing college located in K-do. The data collection period was from August 29 to September 22, 2022, and the collected data were analyzed using the SPSS WIN 18.0 program. The general characteristics and the degree of self-directed learning ability, academic resilience, academic self-efficacy, and critical thinking disposition were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while the correlations among academic resilience, academic self-efficacy, critical thinking disposition and self-directed learning ability were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient, and the influencing factors of self-directed learning ability were analyzed using multiple regression. The results showed that 69.5% of self-directed learning ability was explained by academic resilience, academic self-efficacy, and critical thinking disposition. For the growth of nursing students as nurses, a key workforce in the rapidly changing health care environment, a continuous application of various intra- and extra-curricular programs that improve critical thinking disposition, academic resilience, and academic self-efficacy is recommended.