Emotional intelligence, resilience and personality traits neuroticism and extraversion: predictive capacity in perceived academic efficacy

Background: Recent studies have shown the importance of promoting emotional intelligence and resilience, as well as knowing the personality (extraversion versus emotional instability or neuroticism) in both nursing students and nursing professionals, for better academic adherence, due to stressful situations derived from high academic and attendance requirements for healthcare practices in clinical settings. However, there is little research that analyzes the importance of the perceived academic effectiveness of university students and its relationship with the psychological variables of resilience, emotional intelligence and personality. Objective: To analyse the relationships between perceived academic efficacy, emotional intelligence (EI), resilience and the personality factors of emotional instability and extraversion, as well as to observe the variables that predict perceived academic efficacy. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study on a sample of 434 nursing students in Valencia (Spain) aged 17-54 (M = 21; SD = 0.320). They filled in standard tests on perceived academic efficacy, EI, resilience, emotional instability and extraversion. Results: Perceived academic efficacy is closely and positively related to EI and resilience; and to a lesser extent to emotional instability, but negatively. The academic efficacy predictor variables were EI (global trait, well-being and sociability), resilience (social support and emotional regulation) and emotional instability (R2 of 0.201). Conclusions: Perceived academic efficacy is fundamentally related to EI and resilience positively, and to a lesser extent to emotional instability negatively, fundamentally via these factors: global trait, social support, wellbeing, problem-solving capacity. Nursing students' perception of academic efficacy is relevant for building professional skills and carrying out the nurse's role in organisations. So, it is necessary to promote training programs to increase the emotional intelligence and resilience of nursing students, aimed at promoting competence in professional practice.