THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FACIAL EMOTION RECOGNITION ABILITY AND SAUDI NURSES' PROFESSIONAL SELF-CONCEPT: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2025
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Saudi Digital Library
Abstract
Background: Facial emotion recognition (FER) is a crucial component of
emotional intelligence and leadership effectiveness in healthcare. Professional
self-concept (PSC), representing a nurses' perception of their professional
identity and competence, significantly impacts job satisfaction, resilience, and
leadership behavior.
Aim: To examine the relationship between facial emotion recognition ability and
professional self-concept among Saudi nurses.
XII
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in two
governmental hospitals in Al-Jouf, Saudi Arabia. A convenience sample of 177
nurse completed an online questionnaire. FER ability was measured using the
Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET), and PSC was assessed using the
Nurses' Self-Concept Questionnaire (NSCQ). Data were analyzed using SPSS
version 27, including descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and Simple
linear regression analysis.
Results: The results of the study showed a relatively high level of facial emotion
recognition ability with a total score of (24.43). The level of professional self-
concept among nurse was moderate and tended to increase with a total score of
(192.59). The results showed a positive and statistically significant relationship
between facial emotion recognition ability and nurse professional self-concept
at a statistical significance level of 0.001. Finally, results of the study showed
that facial emotion recognition ability is the only predictor of nurses’ awareness
of Professional Self-Concept at the statistical significance level (0.001). The
analysis shows that among the factors studied, only gender and facial emotion
recognition ability were significant predictors of professional self-concept for
Saudi nurses.
XIII
Conclusion: The study revealed a significant positive relationship between
facial emotion recognition ability and professional self-concept among nurses in
government hospitals in northern Saudi Arabia. Facial emotion recognition
emerged as the strongest predictor of professional self-concept.
Keywords: Facial emotion recognition, Self-concept, Nurses, Emotion, Saudi
Arabia
Description
This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between facial emotion recognition (FER) and professional self-concept (PSC) among 177 Saudi nurses in two governmental hospitals. FER was assessed using the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) and PSC with the Nurses’ Self-Concept Questionnaire (NSCQ). Results indicated relatively high FER and moderate PSC, with a significant positive correlation between them (p < 0.001). Gender and FER emerged as significant predictors of PSC. The findings highlight the importance of FER in strengthening nurses’ professional identity and leadership potential.
Keywords
Keywords: Facial emotion recognition, Self-concept, Nurses, Emotion, Saudi Arabia
Citation
Al-Ruwaili, I. K. D. (2025). The relationship between facial emotion recognition ability and Saudi nurses’ professional self-concept: A cross-sectional study (Master’s thesis, Zarqa University).