The association of perceived sociability and social intelligence with loneliness in online learning among nursing students()

BACKGROUND: As a result of the decrease in socialization levels in computer-supported collaborative learning settings and/or interactions in social environments during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the adverse influence on the social intelligence development of nursing students could trigger loneliness. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of perceived sociability and social intelligence on loneliness in online learning among nursing students in Turkey. DESIGN: Descriptive, correlational and predictive study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A total of 246 nursing students in the Nursing Department of a state university in the Istanbul province of Turkey were included. METHODS: Data were collected using the Participant Information Form, Sociability Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale-8 (ULS-8) for the Adolescents, and Tromso Social Intelligence Scale (TSIS) between November 2020 and December 2020. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of loneliness. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The total mean Sociability Scale score was 23.54 ± 7.51 (range: 10–46). The total mean TSIS score was 74.15 ± 9.98 (range: 46–105) and the total mean ULS-8 was 13.91 ± 4.98 (range: 7–27). Perceived sociability in online learning (β = −0.321, p < .001), and social intelligence (β = −0.347, p < .001) were significant negative predictors (R(2) = 0.269, p < .001) of loneliness. CONCLUSION: Perceived sociability in online learning and social intelligence was associated with the level of loneliness of this population during online learning.