Examining the Relationship between Nurses' Emotional Intelligence and Their Ability to Establish Therapeutic Alliances with Patients in a Community Mental Health Center in Hafr Al-Batin
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63278/jicrcr.vi.810Keywords:
emotional intelligence, therapeutic alliance, nurse-patient relationship, mental health nursingAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between nurses' emotional intelligence and their ability to establish therapeutic alliances with patients in a community mental health center in Hafr Al-Batin, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was used. Ninety-two registered nurses completed the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Short Form (TEIQue-SF) and the Working Alliance Inventory-Short Form (WAI-S). Pearson's correlation and multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence and therapeutic alliance.
Results: A significant positive correlation was found between nurses' global emotional intelligence and their ability to establish therapeutic alliances with patients (r=0.68, p<0.001). The emotionality and sociability factors of emotional intelligence significantly predicted therapeutic alliance (β=0.31, p=0.007; β=0.42, p<0.001, respectively). No significant correlations were found between the well-being and self-control factors of emotional intelligence and therapeutic alliance.
Conclusion: Nurses' emotional intelligence, particularly emotionality and sociability, plays a significant role in their ability to establish therapeutic alliances with patients in mental health settings. Emotional intelligence training may be a valuable tool for enhancing nurse-patient relationships and improving patient outcomes.
