The role of ego-resiliency in the relationship between social anxiety and problem solving ability among South Korean nursing students

Background: Problem-solving is a core ability that nursing students should develop during their education. There is a need to better understand the importance of problem-solving and the factors related to it among nursing students. Objectives: This study aimed to identify the role of ego-resiliency in the relationship between social anxiety and problem-solving ability in Korean nursing students. Methods: Data were collected from a total of 329 nursing students who were enrolled in three nursing programs in South Korea, using a self-administrated questionnaire. Data were mainly analyzed by Baron and Kenny's three-step regression analysis and the Sobel test. Results: Ego-resiliency played a partial mediating role in the relationship between social anxiety and problem solving ability. Further, the Sobel test suggested a mediating effect of ego-resiliency on the relationship between social anxiety and problem-solving (Z = -9.079, p < 0.001). Conclusions: To enhance problem-solving ability in nursing students, nursing educators should establish educational strategies that decrease social anxiety and improve ego-resiliency. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.