The relationship between self-transcendence, cognitive flexibility and depression symptoms in nurses

This study aimed to examine the relationship between self-transcendence, cognitive flexibility and depression symptoms in nurses. This descriptive, cross-sectional, and correlational study was conducted with a sample of 354 nurses. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form (PIF), the Self-Transcendence Scale (STS), the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and hierarchical regression analysis. The nurses' STS, CFI, and BDI scores were 46.86 ± 6.38, 74.89 ± 9.39, and 9.14 ± 6.72, respectively. Low economic status (β = 0.156, p = 0.001), choosing the nursing profession unwillingly (β = 0.106, p = 0.041), working in the emergency department (β = 0.136, p = 0.007), internal diseases clinic (β = 0.117, p = 0.023), and surgical clinic (β = 0.107, p = 0. 039), not being able to cope with problems while working as a nurse (β = 0.155, p = 0.002), not receiving social support in coping with issues (β = 0.281, p < 0.001), self-transcendence (β = -0.218, p < 0.001), and cognitive flexibility (β = -0.136, p < 0.001) predicted the depression symptoms of nurses and explained 27.8 % of the total variance (A.R² = 0.278, p < 0.001). An increased level of self-transcendence and cognitive flexibility reduces nurses' depression symptom levels. In this regard, psychiatric nurses can apply interventions such as psychoeducation, support groups, relaxation exercises, visualization, and meditation to prevent the risk of depression by developing self-transcendence and cognitive flexibility in line with the needs of nurses.