The Relationship between Self-Directed Learning and Problem-Solving Ability: The Mediating Role of Academic Self-Efficacy and Self-Regulated Learning among Nursing Students

Younghui Hwang and Jihyun Oh
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Younghui Hwang: Department of Nursing, University of Ulsan, Ulsan 44610, Korea
Jihyun Oh: Department of Nursing, Daejeon University, Daejeon 34520, Korea

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-9

Abstract: Problem-solving ability is necessary for the clinical reasoning and decision-making of nurses to solve patients’ health problems. This study aims to investigate the association between self-directed learning and problem-solving ability using the multiple mediation model to identify strategies to enhance problem-solving ability in nursing students. This is a descriptive survey study of 193 nursing students from two universities in South Korea. Data about self-directed learning, self-regulated learning, academic self-efficacy, and problem-solving ability were collected using structured questionnaires between 5 March and 17 June 2018, and were analyzed using serial multiple mediation analysis. The direct effect of self-directed learning on problem-solving ability was statistically significant. The serial multiple mediation technique predicting problem-solving ability from self-directed learning, academic self-efficacy, and self-regulated learning was significant, explaining 40% of the variance in problem-solving ability. The relationship between self-directed learning and problem-solving ability was partially mediated by academic self-efficacy and self-regulated learning. This study suggests the suitability of considering academic self-efficacy and self-regulated learning together when conducting self-directed learning to improve nursing students’ problem-solving ability.

Keywords: self-directed learning; self-regulated learning; self-efficacy; problem-solving; nursing students (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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