Applying the social cognitive model of well-being in the nursing clinical practicum: A structural equation modeling analysis with a Spanish student's sample

Background: Clinical education, understanding as practicum, plays a key role in nursing education but has been identified as the most challenging and stressful experience for nursing students. Promoting student satisfaction and well-being during clinical practice has a significant effect on learning outcomes, retention and attrition. Objectives: To examine the predictive power of a social cognitive model of wellbeing when applied to explain academic satisfaction in the clinical practicum and overall life satisfaction of Spanish nursing students. Design/participants: A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted at four Spanish nursing schools in a 586 student's sample. Methods: Data were collected through a self-reported questionnaire that included measures of academic support, self-efficacy, goal progress, academic satisfaction, life satisfaction and trait positive affect. The research model was evaluated through structural equation modeling. Results: The proposed model fit well in the full sample and accounted for substantial portions of the variance in academic (50%) and life satisfaction (21%). Most of the hypotheses formulated were verified. The model was invariant across academic year. Conclusions: The results indicated global support for the social cognitive model of academic satisfaction as a guide for developing interventions to facilitate the positive adjustment and wellbeing of nursing students in the practicum.