The association between team cohesion and performance: A network analysis of nurses

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Organizational Psychology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Team cohesion is crucial for team cooperation and development, showing a strong link to team performance.
• The precise mechanisms underlying the relationship between team cohesion and performance remain unclear, necessitating further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the intricate relationships between the dimensions of team cohesion and team performance specifically within nursing teams.
• To identify key components of team cohesion and performance that drive team effectiveness in a nursing context.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 1639 practice nurses from 118 nursing teams.
• Data collection utilized the Team Cohesion Scale (assessing consistency of affection, behavior, and cognition) and the Team Effectiveness Scale (measuring cooperation satisfaction and task performance).
• Network analysis was employed to construct a team cohesion and performance network, calculating node strength and bridge strength.

Main Results:

• All correlations between team cohesion and performance dimensions were positive.
• Cooperation satisfaction and consistency of affection emerged as the central variables within the network.
• The findings highlight specific dimensions of cohesion that are pivotal for team performance.

Conclusions:

• Interventions focused on enhancing cooperation satisfaction and consistency of affection at the team level are recommended.
• These targeted interventions are expected to maximize both team cohesion and performance among nurses.
• Understanding the network structure provides a basis for developing effective team-building strategies in healthcare settings.