A cross-sectional network analysis on the centrality and bridge associations between alexithymia and difficulties in emotion regulation among nursing undergraduates.

Background: Alexithymia and difficulties in emotion regulation are pivotal psychological determinants of career sustainability in nursing undergraduates. Clarifying their association may provide a preliminary basis for developing targeted intervention programmes.

Aim: To investigate the centrality and bridge associations between alexithymia and difficulties in emotion regulation among nursing undergraduates using cross-sectional network analysis.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a medical university in southeastern China. A purposive sampling method was employed to recruit 574 nursing undergraduates from November to December 2024. The General Information Questionnaire, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale were used. A cross-sectional network analysis was utilised to explore the centrality and bridge associations between alexithymia and difficulties in emotion regulation. Direct and indirect associations between central nodes and other nodes were presented by the flow network.

Results: The network model comprised 9 nodes, and 15 non-zero edges were identified among 36 possible connections. The mean predictability value of the nodes was 53.9 %. The network analysis identified two central nodes: 'Lack of Emotional Clarity' (strength = 1.08) and 'Limited Access to Emotion Regulation Strategies' (strength = 1.05). Flow network analysis indicated that 'Lack of Emotional Awareness' and 'Difficulty Identifying Feelings' were directly related to 'Lack of Emotional Clarity'. 'Difficulty Engaging in Goal-Directed Behaviour' was directly related to 'Limited Access to Emotion Regulation Strategies'. Additionally, 'Lack of Emotional Clarity' (bridge strength = 0.47) and 'Difficulty Identifying Feelings' (bridge strength = 0.39) were identified as bridge nodes.

Conclusion: Lack of emotional clarity, limited access to emotion regulation strategies, and difficulty identifying feelings may represent preliminary targets for future interventions on nursing undergraduates' emotion management ability. Lack of emotional awareness and difficulty engaging in goal-directed behaviour could inform hypotheses in future intervention studies aimed at preventing alexithymia and difficulties in emotion regulation.