Exploring the relationship between socioemotional skills and decision-making styles in health students

Silva, Cândida G.; Gordo, Sara; Rodrigues, Ana Cristina; Henriques, Carolina; Rosa, Marlene

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.8/6789

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Authors

Silva, Cândida G.

Gordo, Sara

Rodrigues, Ana Cristina

Henriques, Carolina

Rosa, Marlene

Abstract(s)

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 decisionmaking 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

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.8/6789

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. IAFOR Journal of Education, 9 (5). https://doi.org/10.22492/ije.9.5.03