BMC Psychology (Mar 2025)

Exploring the impact of interpersonal sensitivity on anxiety symptoms: the mediating role of psychological capital and social support among nursing students

  • Yanyan Mi,
  • Zhen Wang,
  • Lixin Peng,
  • Chaoran Zhang,
  • Haibo Xu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02621-3
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Abstract Background As the demand for healthcare in society continues to rise, nursing students are likely to face various challenges related to their profession in the future. Anxiety symptoms have increasingly become a significant factor affecting their mental health. Given that nursing students are crucial to building the future nursing workforce, it is essential to prioritize their mental well-being. This study aims to explore the relationships between anxiety symptoms, interpersonal sensitivity, psychological capital, and perceived social support among nursing undergraduates. Methods In April 2022, 1,885 nursing undergraduates at a university in eastern China participated in a survey using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7), the interpersonal sensitivity subscale of the SCL-90, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and the Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ-24). Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 24.0 and PROCESS v3.4 macro to assess the impact of interpersonal sensitivity on anxiety and the mediating roles of social support and psychological capital. Results Anxiety showed a positive correlation with interpersonal sensitivity (r = 0.43) and negative correlations with perceived social support (r = -0.32) and psychological capital (r = -0.40), all significant (p < 0.001). Interpersonal sensitivity directly affects anxiety (β = 0.306, SE = 0.023, 95% CI [0.260, 0.352]). Psychological capital served as an independent mediator (β = 0.051, SE = 0.011, 95% CI [0.031, 0.075]) and also in a chain mediation with social support (β = 0.050, SE = 0.104, 95% CI [0.031, 0.072]). Conclusion Interpersonal sensitivity is a positive predictor of anxiety symptoms. Both psychological capital and social support effectively reduce interpersonal sensitivity and anxiety symptoms. Enhancing the availability of psychological capital and social support for nursing students is essential.

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