Authors:
Cândida G. Silva, School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic of Leiria, Leiria, Portugal
Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology (ciTechcare), Polytechnic of Leiria, Portugal
Coimbra Chemistry Centre, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
Sara Gordo, School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic of Leiria, Leiria, Portugal
Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology (ciTechcare), Polytechnic of Leiria, Portugal
Ana Cristina Rodrigues, School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic of Leiria, Leiria, Portugal
Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology (ciTechcare), Polytechnic of Leiria, Portugal
Carolina Henriques, School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic of Leiria, Leiria, Portugal
Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology (ciTechcare), Polytechnic of Leiria, Portugal
Marlene Rosa, School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic of Leiria, Leiria, Portugal
Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology (ciTechcare), Polytechnic of Leiria, Portugal
Email: marlene.rosa@ipleiria.pt
Published: October 22, 2021
https://doi.org/10.22492/ije.9.5.03
Citation: Silva, C. G., Gordo, S., Rodrigues, A. C., Henriques, C., & Rosa, M. (2021). Exploring the Relationship between Socioemotional Skills and Decision-Making Styles in Health Students, 9(5). https://doi.org/10.22492/ije.9.5.03
Abstract
Higher education in health study programs is particularly focused on the development of technical skills, despite there being a consensus on the importance of training students regarding socioemotional and life skills. The aim of this study was to characterize and explore correlations between socioemotional skills and decision-making styles in undergraduate health students. Undergraduate students (18–25 years old) were recruited at a School of Health Sciences in Portugal. Participants were characterized in terms of sociodemographic data, socioemotional skills (Study on Social and Emotional Skills questionnaire) and decision-making styles (Melbourne Decision Making questionnaire). Descriptive statistics and correlations between questionnaires´ subscales were calculated. Students presented higher scores in tolerance (34.8±3.4), cooperation (34.7±2.4), empathy (31.1±3.2), vigilance (16.0±1.9), and procrastination (9.9±2.1). Assertiveness presented negative correlations with buck-passing (rho=-0.43, p<0.01) and procrastination (rho=-0.38, p<0.01) and positive correlation with vigilance (rho=0.22, p=0.03). Students demonstrated higher values in empathy, cooperation, and tolerance skills, meaning they tend to be kind and care for others’ well-being. Vigilance style is related to assertiveness characterizing hard working leaders able to pay attention to others’ needs. Training that involves socioemotional skills might be crucial for the style of decision-making in future health professionals.
Keywords
decision-making styles, health students, interdisciplinary study programs, socioemotional skills