Critical thinking, self-esteem, and state anxiety of nursing students
Author: Suliman WA, Halabi J.
Source:
Nurse Education Today, 27(2), 162-168.
This study aimed at exploring the existing predominant critical thinking
disposition(s) of baccalaureate nursing students and the relationship among their
critical thinking (CT), self-esteem (SE), and state anxiety (SA). Cross-sectional
correlational design was utilized to achieve the said aim. A voluntary convenient
sample consisted of first year (n=105) and fourth year (n=60) nursing students.
The California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory, Rosenberg Self-Esteem
Scale, and Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory were used for data collection
after their translation to Arabic language and test for validity and reliability.
Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze datResults showed
that both groups overall CT was marginal indicating no serious deficiency, their
SE was average, and their SA was relatively high; they reported analyticity,
open-mindedness, systematicity, inquisitiveness, and truth seeking as predominant
critical thinking dispositions with no significant difference between them.
However, the two groups were weak with significant difference on CT
self-confidence (t=-2.053, df=136.904, p=.042) with beginning students reporting
poorer level of CT self-confidence. Significant correlation results showed that
critical thinking is positively correlated with SE, negatively correlated with
SA, and SE is negatively correlated with SA; however, all correlations were
actually quite low.