The mediating effects of self-directed learning ability and critical thinking ability on the relationship between learning engagement and problem-solving ability among nursing students in Southern China: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Problem-solving ability has been identified as a core competence that nursing students should develop, and it plays a vital role in career development. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate factors related to problem-solving ability and the path relationships among those factors in the context of nursing students. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to identify the factors that affect problem-solving ability, and to investigate path relationships of self-directed learning ability, critical thinking ability, learning engagement, and problem-solving ability among nursing students. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTINGS: The Department of Nursing at a university located in Shanghai, China. SAMPLE: A total of 540 nursing students with a three-year education program were enrolled in the current study. METHODS: Data were collected by using a structured questionnaire, including general information, learning engagement, self-directed learning ability, critical thinking ability, and problem-solving ability of nursing students. Pearson’s correlations were used to explore the relationships between learning engagement, self-directed learning ability, critical thinking ability, and problem-solving ability. The path relationships were analyzed by constructing a structural equation model using AMOS software. RESULTS: Our results showed that learning engagement, self-directed learning ability, and critical thinking ability were positively associated with problem-solving ability. Furthermore, learning engagement did not influence problem-solving ability directly, but it affected problem-solving ability indirectly via self-directed learning ability and critical thinking ability among nursing students. Additionally, the total effects of self-directed learning (0.442) and critical thinking ability (0.581) were more prominent than learning engagement (0.361) on problem-solving ability. CONCLUSIONS: To improve the problem-solving ability of nursing students, nursing educators should develop targeted strategies to enhance learning engagement, self-directed learning ability, and critical thinking ability.